BACKGROUND: Controversy remains regarding the effectiveness of bronchodilators in wheezy infants. AIMS: To assess the effect of inhaled beta(2) agonists on lung function in infants with malacia or recurrent wheeze, and to determine whether a negative effect of beta(2) agonists on forced expiratory flow (V'(maxFRC)) is more pronounced in infants with airway malacia, compared to infants with wheeze. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed lung function data of 27 infants: eight with malacia, 19 with recurrent wheeze. Mean (SD) age was 51 (18) weeks. Mean V'(maxFRC) (in Z score) was assessed before and after inhalation of beta(2) agonists. RESULTS: Baseline V'(maxFRC) was below reference values for both groups. Following inhalation of beta(2) agonists the mean (95% CI) change in mean V'(maxFRC) in Z scores was -0.10 (-0.26 to 0.05) and -0.33 (-0.55 to -0.11) for the malacia and wheeze group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In infants with wheeze, inhaled beta(2) agonists caused a significant reduction in mean V'(maxFRC). Infants with malacia were not more likely to worsen after beta(2) agonists than were infants with recurrent wheeze.

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hdl.handle.net/1765/8521
Archives of Disease in Childhood: an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers covering conception to adolescence
Erasmus MC: University Medical Center Rotterdam

Hofhuis, W., van der Wiel, E., Tiddens, H., Brinkhorst, G., Holland, W., de Jongste, J., & Merkus, P. (2003). Bronchodilation in infants with malacia or recurrent wheeze. Archives of Disease in Childhood: an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and researchers covering conception to adolescence. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/1765/8521