Severe bronchoconstriction provoked by sodium cromoglycate

The inhalation of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) is an effective and widely used treatment for asthma. Rarely, reactions to this drug, such as pulmonary eosinophilia, allergic granulomatosis, anaphylaxis, angioneurotic oedema, urticaria, and skin eruptions, have been reported.' Although mild wheeze may develop in some patients after inhaling SCG, in only one patient has the provocation of severe bronchospasm been fully documented. A further patient who developed severe bronchoconstriction after inhaling SCG is described in this report. In this patient bronchospasm was prevented by the administration of salbutamol and an antihistamine but not by atropine.