Use of diclofenac in children with asthma

This study investigated the effect of diclofenac on the lung function of 70 children aged 6-15 years with a diagnosis of asthma, recruited from a hospital respiratory clinic. Peak flow and a forced expiratory flow-volume loop were measured and the patients were then given 1-1.5 mg.kg-1 effervescent diclofenac orally. Spirometry was repeated at 10, 20 and 30 min, a 15% decrease in results being considered a significant reduction in lung function. No patient demonstrated a consistent reduction in lung function of > 15% during the study and there were no reports of wheezing or increased bronchodilator use after completion of the spirometry. In conclusion, we studied a group of genuine asthmatics and found no clinically significant incidence of bronchospasm with the use of a single therapeutic dose of diclofenac.