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Abstract #11759 Published in IGR 7-1
Bronchial reactivity in healthy individuals undergoing long-term topical treatment with beta-blockers
Gandolfi SA; Chetta A; Cimino L; Mora P; Sangermani C; Tardini MGArchives of Ophthalmology 2005; 123: 35-38
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of long-term treatment with topical timolol on bronchial reactivity in healthy individuals. METHODS: Twenty-one otherwise healthy individuals with high-pressure primary open-angle glaucoma were enrolled in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Eleven patients underwent 3 years of topical 0.5% timolol treatment followed by a 1-year washout period; 10 patients underwent primary argon laser trabeculoplasty. Functional variables and bronchial reactivity (forced expiratory volume in 1 second and metacholine challenge test results) were assessed in both groups at enrollment and after 3 and 4 years of follow-up. RESULTS: After 3 years, a measurable response to metacholine challenge was recorded in 6 of 11 otherwise symptom-free individuals treated with 0.5% timolol twice daily. A detectable response to metacholine challenge was still present in half of these individuals (3 of 6) when further washed out for 1 year from the topical beta-blocker. No significant variation in bronchial reactivity was measured in the laser-treated group during 4 years of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy individuals who undergo long-term topical application of a nonselective beta-blocker (0.5% timolol) can develop a subclinical increase in bronchial reactivity. This phenomenon may not be completely reversible on withdrawal of the beta-blocker.
Dr. S.A. Gandolfi, Glaucoma Service, Institute of Ophthalmology, and Department of Respiratory Disease, University of Parma, Parma, Italy. s.gandolfi@rsadvnet.it
Classification:
11.3.4 Betablocker (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
