Review article

The Role of Anticholinergics in Asthma Treatment

Đivo Ljubičić ; KB Dubrava
Zinka Matković ; KB Dubrava
Nevenka Piskač-Živković ; KB Dubrava
Neven Tudorić ; KB Dubrava

Abstract

Although anticholinergics have been accepted as first-line bronchodilators in COPD, many physicians also prescribe them to asthmatics. The efficacy of ipratropium in acute and stable asthma was established about twenty years ago, and some recent studies emphasize the therapeutic potential of tiotropium in asthma treatment. Traditionally, anticholinergics have been classified as bronchodilators. On the basis of the research of non-neuronal cholinergic respiratory system, it is obvious that at least some of them (tiotropium) exhibit non-mechanical, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects in addition to their known mechanical and bronchorelaxing effects. These results promote tiotropium from its position of a mere bronchodilator to that of a potential anti-inflammatory agent that could modify asthma and/or COPD course. Additional clinical trials should be conducted to confirm these hypotheses.

Keywords

asthma; anticholinergics; ipratropium

Hrčak ID:

81085

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/81085

Publication date:

19.12.2011.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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