Abstract
ABSTRACT
We evaluated the effect of betaxolol on the pulmonary function tests of nine patients with glaucoma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring beta-blocker therapy. The results of pre-treatment pulmonary function tests were conpared to results after two weeks of betaxolol therapy. The mean ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) was 59.33 ± 13.30%. After two weeks of betaxolol therapy, the resulting mean FEV-1/FVC was 57.89 ± 13.89%, a statistically insignificant difference (P > 0.05). The mean FEV-1 was 1.94 ± 0.83 liters, compared to 1.91 ± 0.78 liters after two weeks of betaxolol. The mean FVC was 3.19 ± 0.91 liters, compared to 3.23 ± 0.89 liters after two weeks of betaxolol. These differences were, also, not statistically significant (P > 0.05). This prospective study supports previous reports suggesting that betaxolol has potential advantages for those patients at risk for developing pulmonary side effects from beta-blocker therapy. This report represents the largest single-center series of patients who have been studied in this fashion.
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