A 15-year-old boy with asthma is allergic to cats. He went to a friend's house after school who has a pet cat. Later that evening (6 hours after exposure) he stas to wheeze. Which of the following drugs should have been administered in the afternoon to prevent his symptoms?: (A) Theophylline, (B) Cromolyn sodium, (C) Antihistamine, (D) Albuterol
Answer is B. Coicosteroids and cromolyn sodium are impoant pharmacologic agents useful in the treatment of late-phase allergic reactions, which occur 6-8 hours after exposure to an allergen. Theophylline, albuterol, and antihistamines are useful for the early or immediate allergic phase of an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction, but not for the late- phase allergic response.