[Changes in lung function following administration of eyedrops containing timolol, metipranolol, pindolol and pilocarpine in healthy probands and patients with mild bronchial asthma].

Lung function was studied double blind and randomized in 5 patients with mild asthma bronchiale and 10 normal adults before and 30, 60 and 90 minutes after one drop of 0.5% Timolol, 0.6% Metipranolol or 0.9% NaCl in each eye. In the asthmatics bronchoconstriction was seen after both beta-receptor blocking agents, more pronounced after Timolol than after Metipranolol. There was a decrease in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1.0) of 32, respectively 18%. No changes were observed in the normal subjects. In a separate study no significant changes were seen in the mean values of 10 other asthmatic subjects after 1% Pindolol, 3% Pilocarpin or 0.9% NaCl. However, in two patients FEV1.0 was reduced by 15% and 20% of the control values after applying Pindolol. In summary, not only beta-receptor-blocking agents without ISA produce a bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects, but also beta-blocker with ISA in individual cases.