title: Short-term effects of regular salmeterol treatment on adult cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by chronic lung inflammation leading to airways obstruction. Bronchodilators, particularly short-acting beta2-agonists, are, therefore, often used by CF patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate, prospectively, the effects of the long-acting beta2-agonist salmeterol in adult CF patients. Twenty six patients with CF (10 males and 16 females; mean age (+/-SEM) 28+/-2 yrs) with mild-to-moderate airways obstruction (baseline forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) 56+/-2%) were monitored in an open, cross-over trial for 4 weeks by means of peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR), self-recorded symptom scores and body plethysmography. During a 2 week run-in period, all patients continued their treatment, including regular short-acting beta2-agonists. In weeks 3 and 4, short-acting beta2-agonists were replaced by the long-acting beta2-agonist, salmeterol (50 microg b.i.d.). Salmeterol produced a significant increase in PEFR compared to the run-in period (morning 375+/-23 vs 332+/-23 L x min(-1), deltaPEFR +15.1+/-3.1%, p<0.003; evening 384+/-24 vs 349+/-24 L x min(-1), deltaPEFR +11.7+/-2.4%, p<0.04). Similarly, patients reported lower symptom scores, e.g. less dyspnoea during the day, fewer nocturnal awakenings, less intense cough, and fewer unscheduled puffs of short-acting beta2-agonists. Thus, the long-acting beta2-agonist salmeterol provided clinical benefit to a majority of adult cystic fibrosis patients with airways obstruction. These short-term results are promising enough to set up long-term controlled studies.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Internal Medicine II, Frankfurt University Hospital, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bargon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dauletbaev
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wiewrodt
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buhl
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol