Dexamethasone isonicotinate inhibits dual and late asthmatic reactions but not the increase of airway responsiveness induced by toluene diisocyanate in sensitized subjects.

To determine whether treatment with aerosolized dexamethasone isonicotinate inhibits asthmatic reactions and the associated increase in airway responsiveness induced by toluene diisocyanate (TDI), we studied six sensitized subjects with previously demonstrated dual or late asthmatic reaction after inhalation challenge with TDI. Dexamethasone isonicotinate (four puffs bid for seven days, ie, 0.5 mg bid for seven days; last four puffs 30 minutes before TDI) was administered for seven days before the inhalation challenge with TDI (0.010 to 0.015 ppm for 10 to 30 minutes) to each subject, according to a single-blind study design. When the subjects received no treatment, FEV1 markedly decreased and airway responsiveness increased after exposure to TDI. By contrast, when the subjects were treated with dexamethasone-isonicotinate, FEV1 decreased significantly less, but airway responsiveness still significantly increased after exposure to TDI. These results suggest that aerosolized dexamethasone isonicotinate may be used in the prophylaxis of TDI-induced late asthmatic reactions.