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Consider
the following scenario: You are examining the effect of the bronchodilator
albuterol on the dyspnea of patients presenting to an emergency
department. The drug is administered every 20 minutes for a total
of three doses. You plot the change in dyspnea as a function of
forced expiratory volume during the first hour of the patients'
stay in the department (see Figure 2.1)
Figure
2.1: Intensity of Dyspnea as a Function of Time in Patients
Presenting
to an Emergency Department with Status Asthmaticus who
are
Treated with Albuterol at 20 Minute Intervals.
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Official
Journal of the American Thoracic Society. © American
Lung Association.
Reprinted with permission. |
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Question
2.1
How do you explain the fact that the intensity of dyspnea continued
to drop with successive bronchodilator treatments despite the
fact that the FEV1 remained constant after the second dose?
 | Placebo
effect |
 | Direct
effect of the drug on the brain |
 | Effect
of the drug on pulmonary receptors |
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