The proper role of β2-adrenergic agonists in the treatment of children with asthma

β-Adrenergic agonist therapy was associated with increased asthma mortality when high-potency isoproterenol was used in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and when the β-agonist fenoterol was used increasingly in New Zealand in the 1970s.1-3 Recently, a Canadian epidemiologic study reported an increas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pediatrics (Evanston) 1992-10, Vol.90 (4), p.639-640
Main Authors: FURUKAWA, C. T, KEMP, J. P, SIMONS, F. E. R, TINKELMAN, D. G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Medical sciences
Pharmacology. Drug treatments
Respiratory system
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Summary:β-Adrenergic agonist therapy was associated with increased asthma mortality when high-potency isoproterenol was used in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, and when the β-agonist fenoterol was used increasingly in New Zealand in the 1970s.1-3 Recently, a Canadian epidemiologic study reported an increased risk of death with regular use of β-agonists, particularly fenoterol.4 Fenoterol may be uniquely less safe than other β-agonists because of a greater cardiotoxic potential due to less β2 specificity (than terbutaline) and a greater relative dose per actuation.5 The concerns about the safety of β-agonists are linked intimately with the concerns about their effectiveness in asthma therapy.
ISSN:0031-4005
1098-4275
DOI:10.1542/peds.90.4.639