The study by Dr O'Callaghan et al (June 1993;48:603-6) is an interesting attempt to study some of the variables affecting drug delivery from holding chambers. Such studies are essential if we are to use these devices optimally, and it could be argued that it is unethical to proceed to radioisotope deposition studies without such basic data. It would, however, be wrong to make general recommenda...

Five patients with asthma and severe aspirin hypersensitivity were challenged on separate days with increasing doses of aspirin given by mouth, starting with 5 mg, until a reduction in FEV1 greater than 15% was obtained. Sodium cromoglycate in doses of 20-40 mg inhibited the bronchoconstrictive reaction not only when inhaled before the challenge but also after it, at a time when progressive red...

Fifteen children with asthma underwent challenges with methacholine on separate days after double blind administration by nebuliser of either verapamil (5 mg), cromoglycate (20 mg), or saline (placebo). The provocation doses that produced a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20) were analysed. There was variation in the protective effects of verapamil and cromoglycate among t...

Oral disodium cromoglycate (200 mg qds) has been tested in 26 patients with ulcerative colitis that was resistant to medical treatment. In a double-blind crossover trial disodium cromoglycate and placebo were added to conventional treatment in random order, each for four weeks. There was no significant difference in therapeutic effect between disodium cromoglycate and placebo.