[Research on bronchomotor properties of a calcium inhibitor (bepridil) in asthmatic patients].

The bronchomotor properties of calcium antagonists were investigated in 10 patients with paroxysmal asthma, using a double-blind, cross-over method. Each patient received, in random order, either a placebo (5% glucose solution) or bepridil (2 mg/kg) administered by intravenous infusion over 30 min. There were no changes in mean values of vital capacity, FEV1 and systolic blood pressure. Bradycardia was regularly present. Diastolic blood pressure was lowered in 4 patients. An analysis of individual responses showed that FEV1 was unimpaired in 9 patients and was increased by more than 25% in one case. Thus, contrary to beta-blockers, bepridil and other calcium antagonists have no adverse effects on the bronchi of asthmatics; on the other hand, their bronchorelaxant effect is too inconstant for these drugs to be used in the symptomatic treatment of paroxysmal asthma.