Biomaterial Database

[The value and safety of disodium chromoglycate in asthma]. 1975

J M Smith

Disodium cromoglycate has been shown experimentally and by clinical trials to be a useful addition to available treatment for asthma. Follow jp studies have shown no loss of effect with continuous use. Bronchodilators and steroid treatment is used less, resulting in benefits in the overall safety of treatment. Studies of patients treated for more than three years continuously have failed to show evidence of toxic effects. The greatest dangers associated with cromoglycate are failure of some patients to continue treatment as instructed and the possibility of temporary loss of effect during acute attacks of asthma when no inhaled treatment can be effective and systemic treatment is essential. The method of action of disodium cromoglycate is the stabilisation of mast cells resulting in a less ready release of mediator substances, thus causing a reduced asthmatic response. This protective effect could not be obtained after challenge, but it is present if the drug was inhaled prior to challenge. Disodium cromoglycate has been shown experimentally and by clinical trials to be a useful addition to available treatment for asthma. Follow up studies have shown no loss of effect with continuous use. Bronchodilators and steroid treatment is used less, resulting in benefits in the overall safety of treatment. Studies of patients treated for more than three years continuously have failed to show evidence of toxic effects. The greatest dangers associated with cromoglycate are failure of some patients to continue treatment as instructed and the possibility of temporary loss of effect during acute attacks of asthma when no inhaled treatment can be effective and systemic treatment is essential. A study carried out on 242 children showed that 65% clearly benefited from cromoglycate and 57 out of 96 who were on continuous steroid therapy were able to discontinue the steroid treatment. Recently, 998 patients treated with cromoglycate were reviewed for evidence of toxic effects. The most serious side effects observed were hoarse voice due to larynx irritation caused by the inhaled powder, clearing up after discontinuation of the drug. Severe cases of asthma controlled with cromoglycate or any toher inhaled therapy may experience relapses, which could be managed by a prompt systemic treatment.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007223	Infant	A child between 1 and 23 months of age.	Infants
D010919	Placebos	Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol.	Sham Treatment
D002675	Child, Preschool	A child between the ages of 2 and 5.	Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D002986	Clinical Trials as Topic	Works about pre-planned studies of the safety, efficacy, or optimum dosage schedule (if appropriate) of one or more diagnostic, therapeutic, or prophylactic drugs, devices, or techniques selected according to predetermined criteria of eligibility and observed for predefined evidence of favorable and unfavorable effects. This concept includes clinical trials conducted both in the U.S. and in other countries.	Clinical Trial as Topic
D004205	Cromolyn Sodium	A chromone complex that acts by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators from sensitized MAST CELLS. It is used in the prophylactic treatment of both allergic and exercise-induced asthma, but does not affect an established asthmatic attack.	Disodium Cromoglycate,Sodium Cromoglycate,Aarane,Bicromat Spray,Cromoglicic Acid,Cromoglycate,Cromoglycic Acid,Cromolyn,FPL-670,Intal,Lomudal,Nalcrom,Nasalcrom,Opticrom,Vicrom,Acid, Cromoglicic,Acid, Cromoglycic,Cromoglycate, Disodium,Cromoglycate, Sodium,FPL 670,FPL670
D004341	Drug Evaluation	Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals.	Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000336	Aerosols	Colloids with a gaseous dispersing phase and either liquid (fog) or solid (smoke) dispersed phase; used in fumigation or in inhalation therapy; may contain propellant agents.	Aerosol
D001249	Asthma	A form of bronchial disorder with three distinct components: airway hyper-responsiveness (RESPIRATORY HYPERSENSITIVITY), airway INFLAMMATION, and intermittent AIRWAY OBSTRUCTION. It is characterized by spasmodic contraction of airway smooth muscle, WHEEZING, and dyspnea (DYSPNEA, PAROXYSMAL).	Asthma, Bronchial,Bronchial Asthma,Asthmas
D013997	Time Factors	Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations.	Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor