Association between beta-adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms and relative response to beta 2-agonists and anticholinergic drugs in Japanese asthmatic patients.

Background And Objective: Whether beta(2)-adrenoceptor gene (ADRB2) polymorphisms are associated with airway responsiveness to beta(2)-agonist medications remains controversial, partly due to factors that may confound pharmacogenetic associations, including age, cigarette smoking and airway remodelling. To overcome these problems, we performed an analysis using parameters that reflected the specific bronchodilator response to beta(2)-agonists.

Methods: The increases in FEV(1) after inhalation of procaterol hydrochloride (Delta FEV(1) procaterol) or oxitropium bromide (Delta FEV(1) oxitropium), and after sequential inhalation of procaterol and oxitropium (total airway reversibility), were measured in 81 Japanese patients with moderate to severe asthma.