Effect of ketanserin, a new blocking agent of the 5-HT2 receptor, on airway responsiveness in asthma

Most of the antihypertensive drugs have a liability for adverse effects in asthma. Since there are few available data on the effect of ketanserin, a new antihypertensive drug which is a type-2 serotonin receptor antagonist, on human respiratory function, we have tested whether this drug can modify bronchial hyperresponsiveness to methacholine in asthmatic patients. The protective effect of intravenous ketanserin (0.14 mg/kg) was small, but significant.