These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Some fundamental points concerning the clinical aspects of desensitization.
    Author: Bruynzeel PL, Meurs H, Leferink JG, van den Berg W.
    Journal: Bull Eur Physiopathol Respir; 1985; 21(5):45s-52s. PubMed ID: 2865992.
    Abstract:
    Continued exposure of target cells to a hormonal agonist frequently leads to a blunted response to that agonist. This process has been termed desensitization, refractoriness, tolerance or tachyphylaxis. The receptor involved in case of beta-sympathomimetics is the beta-adrenergic receptor. When the clinical aspects of beta-adrenergic receptor desensitization are considered, a number of points need serious attention: 1) the route of administration of the drug and the concentration of the drug reached at the receptor site; 2) other factors which may cause reduced responsiveness of the beta-adrenergic receptor besides beta-sympathomimetics and interfere with this process; 3) the different cell-types which are studied and thought to be representative for processes taking place at lung tissue level; 4) the in vivo parameter(s) chosen to describe desensitization; 5) the difference between normal and asthmatic subjects; 6) the mechanism behind desensitization. The paper concerns a review of these points. Since the clinical findings with respect to the induction of desensitization by beta-sympathomimetics are rather controversial, the therapeutic advice should be: use it with caution.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]