The aim of the study was to compare the effect of fenoterol metered dose inhaler with disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) metered dose inhaler on the lymphocyte β2-receptor population as well as on the clinical findings in patients with bronchial asthma over a two-week period of treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• sex: male and female
• age: 18 years or over
• bronchial asthma, diagnosis confirmed by history and positive inhalation challenge test (unspecific challenge with carbachol, PD100SRaw))
• severity of asthma mild to moderate or asthmatic in symptom-free intervals
• Raw ≤ 5 cm H2O/l/s
• no antiasthmatic treatment in the week (steroid therapy: two weeks) before the start of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• clinically significant, concomitant haematological, cardiac, renal, hepatic or metabolic diseases

• intercurrent diseases, e.g. severe respiratory infections

• patients who cannot do without the following preparations during the 5-week trial:

  • inhaled/oral steroids
  • theophylline
  • antihistamine, antiallergic drugs
  • inhaled/oral sympathomimetics
  • anticholinergics