The treatment of asthma by inhalation of aerosol of aminophyllin

Abstract

1. 1. forty adults suffering from bronchial asthma were treated by inhalations of an aerosol of aminophyllin produced by a new device—a combined steam generator and aerosolizer. 2. 2. Thirty-two patients (80 per cent) were afforded some relief, ranging from slight temporary relief to marked and prolonged relief. 3. 3. Five cases (12.5 per cent) of severe asthma responded to aminophyllin by inhalation, after failing to respond to aminophyllin intravenously. Some cases unresponsive to the aerosol did respond to the intravenous injection. Some cases responded to neither method. 4. 4. Vital capacity studies of nine asthmatic patients, before and after the administration of aminophyllin aerosol, showed an average increase of 20.6 per cent. This compares favorably with a recorded improvement in vital capacity of 12 per cent, obtained by the intravenous administration of 5 c.c. (.125 Gm.) of aminophyllin. 5. 5. The steam generated by the aerosolizer may, in some instances, on inhalation, afford some relief (five out of nine patients responded favorably), but this is slight when compared with the relief obtained with aminophyllin either by inhalation or by intravenous administration. 6. 6. Utilizing the same apparatus, aerosol of penicillin was administered in conjunction with or following an aminophyllin inhalation treatment, where there was evidence of respiratory infection. 7. 7. The aerosolizer used in this investigation is inexpensive, and the patient easily learns to use it for the self-administration of aminophyllin or penicillin.