[Role of Bronchodual in the long-term treatment of asthma in children].

Bronchodual is a combination of two bronchodilators, a beta-2 adrenergic substance (fenoterol, 50 micrograms per dose), and an anticholinergic substance (ipratropium bromide, 20 micrograms per dose), administered by metered aerosol. According to different studies carried out with adults and children, the bronchodilating action of this combination is greatly superior to that obtained with each substance individually; the beta-2 adrenergic substance can be spared; its action is longer and involves a decrease in the number of drug intake and lastly its tolerance is excellent. A French multicentre study was performed with 74 children (7 to 15 years old, mean: 11.8 +/- 2.6 years), 53 boys and 21 girls with allergic or non-allergic asthma: 41 children presented a moderate asthma (one crisis per month) and 33 children moderately severe asthma (one crisis per week). These children had been given no corticosteroid therapy (per os or inhaled) for at least 15 days, their usual long-term treatment (cromoglycate, anti H1, theophylline LP, antibiotics) was given as normal. Their FVC was > or = 80% of predicted values and they presented an intercritical airway obstruction. Hypoxemia was noted in 41.2% of the children. A reversibility test was performed with Bronchodual: 68 of 74 children (i.e. 91.9%) were responders, ie after two doses of Bronchodual at least one of the FEFs had increased by at least 15% when compared with the initial values. The responders were given a 2 month treatment with two inhalations 3 times/day with a spacer. Fifty-seven patients were considered for the final evaluation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)