Leukocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate in asthmatic children. Effects of adrenergic therapy.

Blood specimens for measurement of leukocyte cyclic adenosine monophosphate (AMP) were obtained at weekly intervals from asthmatic children who were participating in a double-blind, crossover study to compare the effects of two adrenergic agents and a placebo. When patients were treated with the placebo, the basal measurements and the cyclic AMP responses of leukocytes to in vitro stimulation with epinephrine (10(-4) M) were similar to those of normal subjects but within one week after initiation of treatment with an adrenergic bronchodilator, leukocyte cyclic AMP responses to adrenergic stimulation in vitro decreased and remained low during the remainder of the treatment period. Within one week after discontinuation of adrenergic therapy, leukocyte cyclic AMP responses returned to the control level. Our results indicate that the alterations in leukocyte cyclic AMP metabolism which have been observed previously in asthmatic patients may result from medications used for treatment of asthma.