Safety of β2-agonists and Atrovent in patients with chronic obstructive lung diseases associated with ischaemic heart disease

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of salbutamol, fenoterol and ipratropium bromide in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) associated with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). One hundred and twenty five patients with exacerbation of moderate to severe BA entered the study. Sixty four of them were diagnosed associated IHD (angina pectoris of II to III functional class and postinfarct cardiosclerosis). All the patients were divided into 4 group, receiving fenoterol, salbutamol, ipratropium bromide and Berodual correspondingly as via dosing aerosol and nebulizer. The bronchodilating effect of the drugs was assessed using peakflowmeter. Moreover, oxygen saturation, arterial blood pressure were measured and 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring was performed. As a result, nebulized therapy with short-acting β₂-agonists gave a significant bronchodilating effect and did not cause considerable hemodynamic disorders and myocardial ischaemia. When using high doses of these drugs in patients with BA and associated IHD the efficacy/safety ratio decreased due to possible hemodynamic disturbances, hypoxemia and myocardial ischaemia induction. The alternative bronchodilator to control the bronchoobstructive syndrome in such patients is to be ipratropium bromide.