Increased rate of ethanol elimination and elevated blood acetate in asthmatics on corticosteroid, beta-2-sympathicomimetic and theophylline treatment.

The rate of ethanol elimination and blood acetate concentrations after a peroral dose of alcohol were measured in eight asthmatic patients receiving high-dose corticosteroid, sustained release theophylline and beta-2-sympathicomimetic treatment and in eight nonalcoholic, healthy controls. Mean ethanol elimination rate (ER) and mean blood acetate concentration (AC) were significantly (P less than 0.01) higher in asthmatics (ER = 134.8 +/- 12.9 mg/kg/hr, AC = 1.13 +/- 0.25 mM) than in controls (ER = 100.2 +/- 12.3 mg/kg/hr, AC = 0.64 +/- 0.10 mM). In the asthmatics there was a significant negative correlation between the age and the rate of ethanol elimination (r = -0.890, P less than 0.01); in the control group, however, this correlation was of lower degree (r = -0.423) and did not achieve statistical significance. Enhanced ethanol metabolism in asthmatics is possibly due to the effect of drugs. Our results suggest that ethanol elimination rate is increased in asthmatics receiving medication and that the effect is most significant in younger age groups.