Effect of strophanthin on pulmonary hemodynamics during bronchial asthma attack
Memetov, K.A.; Ipatov, A.I.; Shilov, A.M.; Ivanov, K.M.; Kompaneĭtseva, L.A.
Terapevticheskii Arkhiv 53(11): 105-108
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0040-3660 PMID: 7339895 Document Number: 176975
Patients (31) with bronchial asthma (the infectious-allergic form) were examined during an asphyxia attack. The magnitudes of the pressure in the right heart and pulmonary artery were measured by catheterization. Blood saturation with O2 was examined in parallel. The effect of cardiac glycosides (strophanthin) on the hemodynamics of the pulmonary circulation during an attack was studied. Two types of changes in the pulmonary artery hemodynamics were revealed: an increase in the pressure in the pulmonary circulation and the absence of pulmonary hypertension. In patients with the increased pulmonary artery pressure, strophanthin caused an appreciable reduction of pulmonary circulation hypertension, while in subjects with normal pressure, no significant changes were detected after the administration of the cardiac glycoside. The evidence indicates the necessity of exercising a differential approach to the administration of cardiac glycosides to patients with bronchial asthma during asphyxia attacks.