A bronchodilator action of glucagon. 1988

M S Sherman, and E J Lazar, and P Eichacker
Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10467.

We evaluated the effect of glucagon on eight patients with asthma. After withholding bronchodilators for 12 hours, patients received either 2 units of intravenous glucagon or 2 ml of saline after a double-blind crossover protocol. Glucagon significantly improved the FEV1 (17.5% +/- 5.5 SEM) and the peak expiratory flow rate (14.2% +/- 4.9), compared to placebo (-2.4% +/- 2.9, p less than 0.02; 4.5% +/- 4.1, p less than 0.25, respectively). Seven patients had an excellent response to glucagon (40% to 105% of the response to inhaled isoproterenol), but four patients had no significant response. We conclude that glucagon, through its pharmacologic actions, can have a bronchodilator effect in selected patients with asthma.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007275 Injections, Intravenous Injections made into a vein for therapeutic or experimental purposes. Intravenous Injections,Injection, Intravenous,Intravenous Injection
D007545 Isoproterenol Isopropyl analog of EPINEPHRINE; beta-sympathomimetic that acts on the heart, bronchi, skeletal muscle, alimentary tract, etc. It is used mainly as bronchodilator and heart stimulant. Isoprenaline,Isopropylarterenol,4-(1-Hydroxy-2-((1-methylethyl)amino)ethyl)-1,2-benzenediol,Euspiran,Isadrin,Isadrine,Isopropyl Noradrenaline,Isopropylnoradrenaline,Isopropylnorepinephrine,Isoproterenol Hydrochloride,Isoproterenol Sulfate,Isuprel,Izadrin,Norisodrine,Novodrin,Hydrochloride, Isoproterenol,Noradrenaline, Isopropyl,Sulfate, Isoproterenol
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D010366 Peak Expiratory Flow Rate Measurement of the maximum rate of airflow attained during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination. Common abbreviations are PEFR and PFR. Expiratory Peak Flow Rate,Flow Rate, Peak Expiratory,PEFR
D001993 Bronchodilator Agents Agents that cause an increase in the expansion of a bronchus or bronchial tubes. Bronchial-Dilating Agents,Bronchodilator,Bronchodilator Agent,Broncholytic Agent,Bronchodilator Effect,Bronchodilator Effects,Bronchodilators,Broncholytic Agents,Broncholytic Effect,Broncholytic Effects,Agent, Bronchodilator,Agent, Broncholytic,Agents, Bronchial-Dilating,Agents, Bronchodilator,Agents, Broncholytic,Bronchial Dilating Agents,Effect, Bronchodilator,Effect, Broncholytic,Effects, Bronchodilator,Effects, Broncholytic
D005260 Female Females
D005541 Forced Expiratory Volume Measure of the maximum amount of air that can be expelled in a given number of seconds during a FORCED VITAL CAPACITY determination . It is usually given as FEV followed by a subscript indicating the number of seconds over which the measurement is made, although it is sometimes given as a percentage of forced vital capacity. Forced Vital Capacity, Timed,Timed Vital Capacity,Vital Capacity, Timed,FEVt,Capacities, Timed Vital,Capacity, Timed Vital,Expiratory Volume, Forced,Expiratory Volumes, Forced,Forced Expiratory Volumes,Timed Vital Capacities,Vital Capacities, Timed,Volume, Forced Expiratory,Volumes, Forced Expiratory
D005934 Glucagon A 29-amino acid pancreatic peptide derived from proglucagon which is also the precursor of intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Glucagon is secreted by PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS and plays an important role in regulation of BLOOD GLUCOSE concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes. (From Gilman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed, p1511) Glucagon (1-29),Glukagon,HG-Factor,Hyperglycemic-Glycogenolytic Factor,Proglucagon (33-61),HG Factor,Hyperglycemic Glycogenolytic Factor
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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