Addition of salmeterol to fluticasone propionate treatment in moderate-to-severe asthma

Respir Med. 2003 May;97(5):555-62. doi: 10.1053/rmed.2003.1483.

Abstract

This study was designed to determine whether the benefit of adding salmeterol was superior to doubling the dose of fluticasone propionate (FP) over 6 months, compared to a control group who remained on a lower dose of FP. The multi-centre, double-blind, parallel group study involved 496 symptomatic asthmatic patients with a history of exacerbations on 500-800 micrograms (microg) inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) twice daily (b.d.) in a broadly representative group of 100 hospitals and general practices in six countries. Two doses of FP--250 microg b.d. (FP250) or 500 microg b.d. (FP500)--were compared with the lower dose of FP plus a long-acting beta2-agonist, salmeterol 50 microg b.d. (SM/FP250). Patients symptomatic on the run-in dose of FP250 alone formed the control group in the treatment period. Over 6 months, SM/FP250 significantly improved mean morning peak expiratory flow rates (amPEF) by 42.1 l/min, more than twice the improvement achieved with either dose of FP alone. SM/FP250 also resulted in more symptom-free days and nights (P < 0.002) and days and nights with no relief medication (P < 0.001). The number of severe exacerbations was low: 3, 6 and 8% in the SM/FP250, low- and high-dose FP groups, respectively. This study confirms that adding salmeterol to low-dose inhaled FP offers greater improvements than either maintaining or doubling the dose of FP. Significant benefit was gained from adding salmeterol in a group of patients who appeared to have been at the top of their steroid dose-response curve receiving FP250. There was no evidence of tolerance and a low incidence of exacerbations in all treatment groups.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Albuterol / therapeutic use*
  • Androstadienes / administration & dosage
  • Androstadienes / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage
  • Bronchodilator Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Fluticasone
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / drug effects
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Androstadienes
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Fluticasone
  • Albuterol