[The effect of salmeterol on the activity of neutrophil chemotactic factor in patients with asthma].
OBJECTIVE
The activity of neutrophil chemotactic factor (NCF) in serum of 40 patients with asthma on their acute attacks was measured with membrane filter method.


METHODS
Of the 26 patients, 13 were administed salmeterol 50 micrograms bid by inhaler and another 13 took procaterol 50 micrograms bid orally for four weeks.


RESULTS
It was found that in patients with asthma NCF was 82 +/- 17 cell/10 HP, which was significantly higher than that in normal subjects (33 +/- 5 cell/10 HP, P < 0.01). After treatment with salmeterol the decrease in NCF activity was 26 cell/10 HP (P < 0.01), while the decrease in another group treated with procaterol was 8 cell/10 HP (P > 0.05). The difference between the two treated groups was significant (P < 0.01). In salmeterol treated group the decrease in NCF activity was more remarkable than the improvement in lung function.


CONCLUSIONS
It was considered that the result may be related to the anti-inflammatory effect of salmeterol.
Kong
L
L
Respiratory Disease Institute, China Medical University, Shenyang.
Li
Z
Z
Yu
R
R
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017265:Procaterol / Q000494:pharmacology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D016209:Interleukin-8; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol; D017265:Procaterol