Nebulized lidocaine inhalation in the treatment of patients with acute asthma.

BACKGROUND Lidocaine can promote the apoptosis of eosinophils, which is normally delayed by IL-5; it has a good effect on serious steroid resistant asthma (SRA). The study aimed to explore the effect of nebulized lidocaine inhalation on asthma. METHODS It was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and prospective study. A total of 36 patients with acute asthma were divided into groups A1, A2, B1 and B2, with 9 patients in each group. The patients of groups A1 and A2 had steroid resistant asthma (SRA) and those of groups B1 and B2 had steroid sensitive asthma (SSA). Patients in groups A2 and B1 were administered nebulized lidocaine in addition to routine treatment, while patients in groups A1 and B2 were given nebulized normal saline apart from routine treatment and served as placebo-controlled groups. RESULTS There were significant differences in heart rate, respiratory rate, and peak flow rate and forced expiratory volume in one second between the experimental groups and the placebo-controlled groups. There was no significant difference between groups A2 and B1, and between A1 and B2. CONCLUSION Inhaled lidocaine is beneficial to asthma patients, especially those with steroid-resistant asthma.