British journal of diseases of the chest
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Effect of terbutaline administered from metered dose inhaler (2 mg) and subcutaneously (0.25 mg) on tracheobronchial clearance in mild asthma.
Tracheobronchial mucus clearance was measured in nine mild asthmatics, using an objective radioaerosol technique, on 3 separate days at intervals of 1 week. Immediately after radioaerosol inhalation, drug or placebo was administered via subcutaneous injection (SC) plus metered dose inhaler (MDI)--2 puffs. ⋯ Changes in lung mucociliary clearance showed an inverse relationship to baseline clearance of both proximal and distal ciliated airways following inhaled terbutaline, whereas terbutaline SC related inversely only to baseline clearance of the distal ciliated airways. This may reflect the surface concentrations of drug, established by each route.