LABA drugs have been shown to have a side effect of increasing the risk of sudde

Question

LABA drugs have been shown to have a side effect of increasing the risk of sudden death to an uncontrollable asthma attack (http://annals.org/aim/article/724674/meta: analysis-effect-long-acting-agonists-severe-asthma-exacerbations-asthma). This is thought to occur through non-responsiveness to emergency inhaler medication during an asthma attack resulting from chronic LABA use. What could best explain this? Beta-1 adrenergic receptor upregulation Beta-1 adrenergic receptor downregulation Alpha-1 adrenergic receptor downregulation Beta 2 adrenergic receptor downregulation Beta-2 adrenergic receptor upregulation

Explanation / Answer

Answer is

2 adrenergic receptor downregulation

LABA (long acting 2 agonists) acts on 2 adrenergic receptors and causes smooth muscle relaxation. In asthma, it causes dilation of bronchial passages. Longer use of this group of drugs causes bronchial hyperreactivity, airway inflammation and remodelling by downregulating the 2 adrenergic receptors.

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