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BackgroundInhalation of organic dust from a pig house induces airway inflammation and increases bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in healthy subjects. ObjectiveTo study whether sodium cromoglycate influences the airway inflammatory reaction and the increase in airway responsiveness induced by inhalation of organic dust. MethodsBronchoalveolar and nasal lavages, and bronchial methacholine challanges were performed and blood samples were drawn in 32 healthy subjects before and after exposure to dust in a pig farm. Sodium cromoglycate was inhaled (20 mg, twice a day) and administered intranasally (5.2 mg, twice a day) by 16 and a corresponding placebo was given to the other 16 healthy controls for two weeks prior to exposure. ResultsExposure induced a significant increase in inflammatory cells and soluble components (pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory mediators) in bronchoalveolar and nasal lavage fluid in both groups. The increase in neutrophils, interleukin (IL)-6 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α as well as myeloperoxidase and soluble intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was significantly reduced by treatment with sodium cromoglycate. Although sodium cromoglycate inhalation largely influenced a variety of inflammatory indices in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid it had no effect on the increase in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. ConclusionSodium cromoglycate alters the airway inflammatory response to inhaled organic dust without influencing the dust-induced increase in bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe though transient form of ocular allergy, predominant in young males, which requires careful management. Corticosteroids are effective but also cause serious topical side-effects in the eye, such as glaucoma and cataracts. The safer, mast cell stabilizing anti-inflammatories (commonly sodium cromoglycate) therefore have an important role. This parallel group study compared efficacy, tolerability and safety of sodium cromoglycate 2% with nedocromil sodium 2%, administered as one drop per eye four times daily for a period of 5 months. Methods Children aged 4–17 years, with a diagnosis of mostly limbal VKC in the last 12 months, entered a 2-week baseline during which they used only artificial tears, and were then randomized to treatment, in groups of 18, on an investigator single-masked basis. Daily symptom diary cards were kept by patients/guardians, and VKC was assessed by the clinician at approximately monthly intervals. Dexamethasone was provided for rescue control of severe symptoms, if needed. Results A total of 34 patients completed the study.Both trial treatments produced rapid improvements and many ocular signs and symptoms, including Trantas' dots, chemosis, itching, soreness and sticky discharge, were fully controlled by the end of the study. However, nedocromil sodium took effect more quickly, with a significant reduction compared to sodium cromoglycate for itching, grittiness, hyperaemia and keratitis within 6 weeks. In addition, nedocromil sodium was the more efficacious overall (significant vs sodium cromoglycate for hyperaemia, keratitis, papillae and pannus at 22 weeks). Both treatments were well tolerated and without serious adverse effects. Final opinions favoured nedocromil sodium, with full control of VKC recorded for 94% (patient opinion) and 100% (clinician opinion) of this treatment group, compared with 29% and 0%, respectively, in the sodium cromoglycate group. Conclusions... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background A well established drug for the treatment of asthma and allergy, sodium Cromoglycate, was found in open trials to be useful as a symptomatic treatment for upper respiratory tract infections. Objective To compare the efficacy of inhaled and intranasal sodium cromoglycate and matching placebos on the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections. Methods Adult subjects with symptoms of runny nose, throat pain, or cough for less than 24 h were recruited. They were treated for 7 days using a randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled, group comparative design. The medication given was: sodium cromoglycate dry powder 20 mg per inhalation in spincaps; sodium cromoglycate aqueous nasal spray delivering 5.2 mg per dose; or matching placebo as dry powder and nasal spray. One spincap and one spray per nostril were taken every 2h during waking hours on days I and 2 and then four times daily on days 3-7. Severity of nine symptoms (general malaise, body aches and pains, chills and shivering, sneezing, nasal running, nasal blocking, sore throat, cough and voice disturbance) was recorded twice daily by subjects on diary cards, using a scale of 0 (absent) to 3 (severe). Results The study was conducted between February and April 1993. One hundred and eighteen patients aged 21-63 years (mean 41 years) were included. Symptoms resolved faster (P < 0.001) and the severity in the last three days of treatment was significantly less in patients treated with sodium cromoglycate than with placebo (P <0.05-day 5; P< 0.01-day 6; < 0.001-day 7). Side-effects were local and mild and did not differ between the treatment groups. Conclusion Sodium cromoglycate administered both by inhalation and intranasally is an effective treatment for the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection. Its combined safety and efficacy would make it an acceptable form of treatment for these conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]