Action mechanisms of complex spa therapy on bronchial asthma. 1. Relationship to evaluation of spa therapy

Action mechanisms of complex spa therapy (swimming training in a hot spring pool, inhalation with iodine salt solution, and fango therapy) were studied in relation to patient age, clinical asthma type, and airway inflammation. Actions of spa therapy were observed by two clinical effects : direct and indirect effects. Improvement of subjective symptoms, ventilatory function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness was observed as direct effects of spa therapy, and improvement of suppressed function of adrenocortical glands as indirect effects of the therapy. The clinical effects of spa therapy were higher in patients over the age of 40. Regarding clinical asthma type, the effects were larger in patients with type Ib and type II asthma than in those with type Ia. The efficacy of spa therapy was closely related with airway inflammation in patients with type Ib and type II asthma.

複合温泉療法(温泉プール水泳訓練,ヨードゾル吸入,鉱泥湿布療法)の作用機序が,年齢,臨床病型,気道炎症反応との関連のもとに検討された｡温泉療法の作用機序は,2種類の臨床効果,すなわち,直接効果と間接効果により観察された｡自,他覚症状の改善,換気機能の改善,そして,気道過敏性の改善などが,温泉療法の直接効果として,また,副腎皮質機能の改善が間接効果とし て観察された｡温泉療法の臨床効果は,40才以上の症例においてより有効であり,また,臨床病型別では､Ia型に比べ,Ib型およびⅡ型においてより有効であった｡Ib型やⅡ型の気管支喘息では,温泉療法の作用機序と気道炎症反応との間に密接な関連が認められた｡