Effect of inhaled glutathione on airway response to 'Fog' challenge in asthmatic patients.

OBJECTIVE We report on the effect of glutathione, an antioxidant compound on the airway response to the ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (UNDW, 'fog') challenge. METHODS 12 subjects with mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma underwent double-blind, cross-over pretreatment, administered 30 min earlier, in a randomised order with inhaled glutathione (G) (600 mg), sodium cromoglycate (SCG) (20 mg) and placebo (P), followed by the challenge. RESULTS After P pretreatment UNDW challenge caused a mean 20.41% decrease in FEV-1 (p < 0.05), after G, a mean 6.04% fall in FEV-1 (p = n.s.), and after SCG a mean 5.99% fall in FEV-1 (p = n.s.). CONCLUSIONS G significantly attenuated 'fog'-induced falls in FEV-1 (p < 0.001 compared with P) and showed a protective effect on UNDW-induced bronchoconstriction.