[A multi-centre study of reproterol, a bronchodilator (author's transl)].

Reproterol (Bronchospasmin), a monomolecular combination of catecholamine and theophylline, was tested in 81 patients with bronchial asthma or chronic obstructive bronchitis after a single oral dose, and compared with orciprenaline by intra-individual cross-over test. Five pulmonary-function laboratories cooperated in the study. A statistically significant bronchodilator effect, as measured by airway resistance and volume-corrected resistance, was obtained with 20 mg reproterol, having its onset after about 30 minutes, reaching its peak after 2-3 hours, and lasting for at least 4 hours. Comparing the area under the time-effect curves, the total effect was greater than that after 20 mg orciprenaline, pO2 rose higher after reproterol than after orciprenaline, but only by a few mm Hg. Neither heart rate nor blood pressure changed significantly after reproterol.