Objective: To determine the feasibility of administering iloprost by inhalation in patients with mild atopic asthma.
Methods: Volunteers underwent supervised inhalation of iloprost in the clinic with measurement of spirometry and blood pressure for 2 hours. The volunteers then inhaled iloprost four times daily at a dose of 2.5 or 5 μg for 14 days. Spirometry, asthma questionnaires, peak flow diaries, measurement of methacholine responsiveness, and exhaled nitric oxide concentrations were obtained prior to and after the treatment period.
Results: Chronic inhalation of iloprost (2.5-5 μg) did not alter spirometry or methacholine responsiveness.
Conclusion: Inhaled iloprost in carefully selected volunteers with mild asthma appears to be a suitable intervention to explore the effects of prostacyclin in human asthma.