Effect of anti-asthmatic drugs on the response to inhaled endotoxin.

Background: Endotoxin is a pro-inflammatory agent contaminating the dust that has been associated with the risk to develop pulmonary diseases. There is no data on the protective efficacy of anti-asthmatic drugs on the response induced by inhaled endotoxin in human.

Methods: Twelve mildly asthmatic subjects were submitted weekly to bronchial challenge tests with 20 microg endotoxin.