OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of ginkgolide nebulised inhalation in treating bronchial asthma.

METHODSAsthma patients of mild to moderate degree were randomly divided into three groups: the treated group treated by ginkgolide nebulised inhalation 10 mg/ml, twice daily, for 6 weeks in total, the positive control group, treated by cromlyn sodium nebulised inhalation 20 mg/10 ml, twice daily, for 6 weeks in total and the negative control group treated by normal saline 10 ml, twice daily, for 4 weeks in total. The changes on symptomatic scoring (Chetta' s method), pulmonary function (FEV1, PEF), serum eosinophil count, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP, determined by RIA), as well as airway response to ultrasonically nebulised distilled water (UNDW), and adverse reaction occurred in patients were observed. Results The symptomatic scorings in the treated and the positive control group were reduced from 5.1+/-2.3 and 6.0+/-2.6 to 1.6+/-1.7 and 1.6+/-1.7, respectively (both P<0.01) after 6 weeks of treatment. In the treated group, ECP was reduced from 6.7 microg/L to 4.3 microg/L (P<0.05), FEV1 and PEF were improved (P<0.05, P<0.01), while in positive control group, only improvement of FEV1 was found (P < 0.05). UNDW in the above two groups were reduced (P<0.01). Although decrease of symptomatic scoring was found in the negative control group, yet ECP, pulmonary function and airway response showed no improvement (P >0.05). Adverse reactions revealed were mainly chest stuffiness, stimulating cough, especially in the treated group, but were tolerable to most patients. Conclusion Ginkgolide has the action of fighting against asthmatic airway inflammation, which provides new means for treating bronchial asthma.