Inhibition of Allergic Reactions by Cromoglycate and by AH 7079 in Patients with Allergic Airway Disease

Abstract

(1) A quantitative comparison was carried out between the inhibitory effects of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) and a representative of a new series of anti-allergy compounds (AH 7079) on the response of patients with allergic asthma to allergen inhalation. (2) Asthmatic attacks due to immediate allergic response to experimentally inhaled antigen, were inhibited by AH 7079 inhaled shortly before antigen. A dose of 3 mg seemed to be optimal in this test. However, the single dose given did not inhibit late reactions. The relative potency of AH 7079 and DSCG in inhibiting the response to bronchial challenge was not reliably assessed because of the unusual shape of dose-response curves, particularly of DSCG. (3) Bronchial hyposensitization due to repeated allergen inhalation posed a big problem in assessing the effects of these inhibitors. Such a problem may be met with in similar studies of other drugs. The use of inhibitors may enhance the development of bronchial desensitization. (4) A double-blind trial of AH 7079 in patients with allergic rhinitis showed that this drug also inhibits reactions to nasal challenge with antigen. Our findings suggest that AH 7079 is a potent anti-allergy drug and that it can protect patients with allergic airway disease against reactions to antigen.