Comparative study of the effects of nedocromil sodium (4 mg) and sodium cromoglycate (10 mg) on adenosine-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects

Summary The effect of nedocromil sodium (4 mg; 7.8 × 10−6m) on adenosine‐induced bronchoconstriction was compared with that of a higher dose of sodium cromoglycate (10 mg; 24.1 × 10−6m). Eleven allergic asthmatic patients (mean age 26.28 ± 12.21 years) were studied. Adenosine (0.03–4.00 mg) was administered as nebulized aerosol. The dose of adenosine producing a 20% change in FEV1(PD20) was calculated from the individual semi‐logarithmic dose‐response curves. Patients were studied on 4 separate days. On the first day the adenosine challenge was performed; on subsequent days patients were pretreated (20 min before challenge) with either placebo or test drug (nedocromil sodium 2 × 2 mg or sodium cromoglycate 2 × 5 mg) administered by pressurized aerosol in a randomized, double‐blind manner. Statistical analysis was performed by two‐way analysis of variance. Neither sodium cromoglycate nor nedocromil sodium showed a significant bronchodilator effect. In patients treated with placebo, inhalation of adenosine produced a dose‐related bronchoconstriction with a geometric mean PD20 of 0.42 mg. After drug administration the mean PD20 values were 1.29 mg with sodium cromoglycate and 2.30 mg with nedocromil sodium. Both drugs produced a significant increase in mean PD20 value in comparison with placebo and baseline (P < 0.01). These results demonstrate that nedocromil sodium (4 mg) is significantly more potent than a larger dose of sodium cromoglycate (10 mg) in inhibiting adenosine‐induced bronchoconstriction (P < 0.05).