[Effect of nedocromil sodium on clinical course and histamine airway responsiveness in patients with pollen induced bronchial asthma].

Nedocromil sodium is a non-steroidal prophylactic agent for the management of asthma. We assessed the effect of inhaled of nedocromil sodium 8 mg/24 h in a double blind, placebo controlled study in 14 patients suffering from seasonal (grass-pollen) asthma. Symptom scores for dyspnoe, cough, rhinitis and airway responsiveness to histamine (PC20H) according to Cockcroft et al were estimated before the grass-pollen season and at the end of 14-day placebo treatment and 21-day nedocromil sodium treatment. During placebo period the significant decrease in PC20H from 1.81 mg/ml to 0.54 mg/ml (p < 0.01) was observed. Nedocromil sodium did not have the effect on nonspecific bronchial responsiveness, PC20 - 0.74 mg/ml (p = 0.25). Subjective global assessment scores were significantly better with nedocromil sodium (31.15 mean 2.23) than with placebo (10.5 mean 0.7) p < 0.05.