DISODIUM CROMOGLYCATE A NEW COMPOUND FOR PREVENTION OF EXACERBATIONS OF ASTHMA

Disodium cromoglycate (Intal, FPL 670) has been found to inhibit the broncho-spastic response to inhaled antigens in asthmatic patients. Its efficacy in the treatment of bronchial asthma was studied by a double-blind crossover method in 22 patients with persistent, perennial asthma. Each patient received either 2 weeks of disodium cromoglycate, by inhalation 4 times a day, followed by 2 weeks of placebo or the reverse. Daily diaries of symptoms and medication use were kept by each patient so that scores could be calculated from these diaries. Weekly physical examinations, FEV1, sputum cultures, blood chemistries, liver function tests, and urinalyses were obtained. Accumulated scores showed that 15 out of 22 patients improved on disodium cromoglycate. Two of the 15 patients had dramatic improvement whereas 13 patients had variable degrees of mild improvement. Analysis of variance showed that the difference between the treated and placebo periods was significant at the 2 per cent level. No untoward side effects were noted. © 1969 The C. V. Mosby Company.