mesna and Asthma

A patient with severe chronic asthma, who had become refractory to conventional antiasthma drugs, is described. As a last resort, therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage was performed using beta-stimulant, steroid, and mucolytic solutions. The patient, who had had asthmatic attacks almost every day prior to lavage, showed a dramatic and sustained improvement in his condition. It is suggested that therapeutic bronchoalveolar lavage may be useful in chronic asthmatics who have become refractory to conventional treatment because of mucus plugging of their bronchi.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Albuterol; Asthma; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid; Drug Therapy, Combination; Humans; Male; Mesna; Methylprednisolone Hemisuccinate

Status asthmaticus in children is a life-threatening condition that calls for a comprehensive set of therapeutic measures, viz. evacuation of tracheobronchial secretions, parenteral drug administration and improvement of alveolar gas exchange. In the authors' experience, that therapeutic procedure can be much improved by bronchial lavage with mesna. This is illustrated by the good results obtained in fourteen patients with status asthmaticus and in another forty-four cases of global respiratory insufficiency. Evaluation was by blood gas values and X-ray pictures. The method used for bronchial lavage is described.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Bronchi; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Infant; Mercaptoethanol; Mesna; Therapeutic Irrigation