Comparative study of the bronchodilator efficacy and adverse effects of salbutamol and hyoscine butylbromide in horses with severe asthma

Abstract

Background: Salbutamol and hyoscine butylbromide (HBB) are commonly used bronchodilators in horses with severe asthma (SA).

Objective: To compare the bronchodilation potency, duration, and adverse effects of salbutamol and HBB in SA.

Animals: Six horses in exacerbation of SA.

Methods: The effects of inhaled salbutamol (1000 μg) and HBB (150 mg, IV) were compared in a randomized, blinded, crossover experiment. Lung function, intestinal borborygmi and heart rate were assessed before and sequentially until 180 minutes after drug administration, and analyzed with 2-way repeated-measures ANOVA and Dunnett's multiple comparison tests.

Results: Both treatments caused a similar improvement in lung function. Pulmonary resistance and reactance returned to baseline values within 30 minutes after HBB administration, whereas salbutamol improved reactance until 180 minutes (mean improvement at 180 minutes of 0.040 Kpa/L/s, 95% CI = 0.004 to 0.076; P = .02 for salbutamol and of 0.009 Kpa/L/s, 95% CI = -0.028 to 0.045; P = .98 for HBB for the resistance at 3 Hz and of 0.040 Kpa/L/s, 95% CI = 0.007 to 0.074; P = .01 for salbutamol and of 0.009 Kpa/L/s, 95% CI = -0.024 to 0.042; P = .97 for HBB for the reactance at 7 Hz). From 5 to 30 minutes after HBB administration, the heart rate accelerated (mean increase of 3.3 beats per minute, 95% CI = -6.6 to 13.1; P = .92 for salbutamol, and of 13.0 beats per minute, 95% CI = 3.6 to 22.4; P = .002 for HBB at 30 minutes) and the gut sounds decreased (mean reduction of 1.3, 95% CI = -0.1 to 2.8; P = .09 for salbutamol and of 2.8 for the gastrointestinal auscultation score, 95% CI = 1.4 to 4.3; P < .0001 for HBB at 30 minutes).

Conclusions and clinical importance: Both drugs have a similar bronchodilator potency but with a longer duration for salbutamol. Gastrointestinal and cardiovascular effects were noted only with HBB, suggesting the preferential use of salbutamol to relieve bronchoconstriction in horses with asthma.

Keywords: aerosol treatment; bronchodilator; heaves; oscillometry.