Evaluation of Beta Blockers for the Treatment of Asthma.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of Beta Blockers for the Treatment of Asthma. A Randomised Controlled Trial of Propranolol.
IRAS ID
40693
Contact name
Brian J Lipworth
Sponsor organisation
University of Dundee
Eudract number
2009-017356-28
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Research summary
Beta-blockers are a type of medication that are used for a variety of conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure. Short-term use of beta-blockers in treating heart failure reduces heart muscle strength and increases complications such aflud overload in the lungs. Due to these side effects beta-blockers were in the past avoided in heart failure. Over the last 20 years however, beta-blockers given long-term in heart failure have been shown to increase heart muscle strength and reduce risk of death. Following this work a gradual introduction and increasing dose regime of beta-blockers was introduced into treating heart failure and it is now standard practice. We believe this change in medication effects between short-term risks and long-term benefits can be applied to asthma. Beta-blockers are avoided in asthma patients, because beta-blockers have been found in the past to cause severe asthma attacks and in extreme circumstances death soon after being taken. Published reports of severe asthma after beta-blockers were recorded over 20 years ago involving asthmatic patients who were poorly controlled and not under the supervision of a doctor when they took the beta-blocker. Studies in mouse models and humans with asthma have shown long-term use of beta-blockers can reduce airway inflammation which is important in improving asthma control. In this study we wish to examine the long term use of beta-blockers in asthmatics and using tests to measure airway inflammation, assess if there are any beneficial effects. Safety must always be the main focus when conducting studies which develop new treatment strategies. However there is now evidence that the use of beta-blockers in asthma may have a beneficial effect and we hope to further clarify this topic through our own research.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
10/S0501/22
Date of REC Opinion
21 Apr 2010
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion