Adrenergic responses of asthmatic and normal subjects to submaximal and maximal work levels.

The response of the adrenergic system of asthmatic subjects to exercise and the role of plasma catecholamines in exercise-induced asthma were investigated. Plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine were measured at rest, during and after exercise in 7 asthmatic and 9 matched normal subjects. Exercise-induced bronchospasm occurred in all asthmatic subjects following exercise, while no significant change was observed in the normal subjects. The results showed that plasma levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine at rest and changes that occcurred during and after exercise were similar in both normal and asthmatic subjects. These data suggest that the adrenergic response of asthmatics to the same relative exercise stress as reflected in plasma catecholamine levels does not differ from that of normal subjects. It appears that changes in the circulating catecholamines do not play a significant role in the pathogenesis of exercised-induced asthma.