[The broncholytic effect of carboanhydrase inhibitors in subjects with healthy lungs (author's transl)].

Carboanhydrase inhibitors are said to have a positive effect on respiratory insufficiency. We examined this, especially regarding the bronchial system. Actions and reactions of the human bronchial system can be followed by measurement of the anatomical dead space breath by breath. We have developed a new method which was tested by classical broncho-effective substances. Our experiments show in case of two men with healthy lungs that the three carboanhydrase inhibitors acetazolamide, methazolamide, and dichlorphenamide have a pronounced broncholytic effect. The effect is greater than that of fenoterol. In addition the bronchial peristalsis and the bronchial compliance are increased. In contrast to fenoterol carboanhydrase inhibitors have no cardiac side effect.