Newer Drugs in Management

Calcium Antagonists

¹ From the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo

Ca²⁺ ions are critical to the functions of the various cells involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. Interest has developed regarding the potential use of Ca²⁺ antagonists in the management of asthma and allergic diseases. The information accumulated to date suggests that Ca²⁺ entry blockers may decrease airway smooth muscle responses to contractile agonists and may also reduce chemical mediator release from mast cells. Both processes would be expected to modify favorably the pathophysiology of asthma. This seems to have been demonstrated with the findings that certain Ca²⁺ entry blockers may inhibit exercise-induced bronchospasm and cold air- and antigen-induced airway narrowing. In several but not all experiments a direct bronchodilating effect of nifedipine was found in some subjects.

In asthmatic patients with coexistent cardiovascular disease requiring β-blocker therapy, it would be appropriate to use drugs such as the currently available Ca²⁺ entry blockers in place of the contraindicated β-blocking agents.

It appears that the currently available Ca²⁺ entry blockers have not provided a breakthrough class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of asthma. However, it seems highly likely that new Ca²⁺ antagonist drugs can be expected which will have greater specificity for airway smooth muscle and perhaps other cell types involved in the pathogenesis of asthma.