Characteristics of study patients
| Fluticasone(n = 27) | Fluticasone/salmeterol(n = 27) | |
|---|---|---|
| IgE, immunoglobulin E; specific IgE, serum level of specific IgE directed against the type of allergen used during allergen challenge; PC20histamine, concentration of histamine provoking a fall in FEV1 of at least 20%; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second; PEF, peak expiratory flow. | ||
| No significant differences in patient characteristics were observed at the end of the run-in period (defined as baseline) between the two groups. During the run-in period FEV1 and PC20histamine improved significantly (p<0.001). | ||
| *Median (range). | ||
| †Geometric mean (geometric SD). | ||
| ‡Mean (SD). | ||
| §β2 agonist usage recorded during the 2 weeks preceding the end of run-in visit. | ||
| Age (years)* | 32 (19–57) | 32 (21–59) |
| M/F | 8/19 | 10/17 |
| Inhaled corticosteroids before study(μg/day)* | 593 (200–1200) | 619 (200–1000) |
| Total IgE (IU/ml)† | 127 (3.4) | 172 (2.7) |
| Specific IgE (IU/ml)† | 5.2 (6.7) | 8.4 (3.1) |
| PC20histamine start run-in (mg/ml)† | 0.4 (1.6) | 0.5 (1.5) |
| PC20histamine end run-in (mg/ml)† | 1.0 (1.5) | 1.6 (1.3) |
| FEV1 start run-in (% predicted)‡ | 89.9 (14) | 88.8 (18) |
| FEV1 end run-in (% predicted)‡ | 92.6 (16) | 93.1 (16.1) |
| Morning PEF end run-in (l/min)‡ | 422 (102) | 418 (102) |
| Evening PEF end run-in (l/min)‡ | 435 (110) | 431 (106) |
| Morning symptom score end run-in(scale 0–4)‡ | 0.2 (0.3) | 0.3 (0.5) |
| Evening symptom score end run-in(scale 0–5)‡ | 0.6 (0.6) | 0.6 (0.7) |
| Short acting β2 agonist usage(puffs/day)‡§ | 1.4 (1.8) | 1.0 (1.3) |