Randomised trial, 1986
Does menstrual cycle phase affect how women with asthma respond to anti-inflammatory medication?
Yes. Women with premenstrual asthma had acute reactions to meclofenamate during the early cycle phase but never during the late cycle phase. Prostaglandin levels were 10 times higher in the early phase.
What they did
Researchers measured prostaglandin levels and airway response to meclofenamate and metaproterenol at two cycle phases in 24 women with premenstrual asthma, 4 with regular asthma, and 4 healthy women. Each woman received a single 100 mg dose of meclofenamate and 1.5 mg of metaproterenol during the early (follicular) and late (luteal) cycle phases.
What they found
Prostaglandin averaged 140.9 pg/0.1 ml in the follicular phase but only 14.4 pg/0.1 ml in the luteal phase. Six women with premenstrual asthma had acute reactions to meclofenamate during the follicular phase but never during the luteal phase. These reactions occurred more often in women on corticosteroids. One woman had 18% improvement in lung function with meclofenamate during the luteal phase.
What it means for you
Women with premenstrual asthma may experience worse reactions to meclofenamate during the early menstrual cycle phase. This may be related to lower prostaglandin levels during the late cycle. However, this finding applies to only one medication and may be specific to women taking corticosteroids.
140.9 pg/0.1 ml
Prostaglandin in follicular phase
14.4 pg/0.1 ml
Prostaglandin in luteal phase
6 of 24
Women with premenstrual asthma with reactions to meclofenamate
About the study
- Original title
- Serum 13-14-diOH-15-keto-prostaglandin F2 alpha and airway response to meclofenamate and metaproterenol in relation to the menstrual cycle
- Authors
- Eliasson O, Longo M, Dore-Duffy P et al.
- Journal
- The Journal of asthma : official journal of the Association for the Care of Asthma
- Year
- 1986
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 24
- What was tested
- Single dose of 100 mg oral meclofenamate and 1.5 mg inhaled metaproterenol at follicular and luteal cycle phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/02770908609073178
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