A six-month, placebo-controlled comparison of the safety and efficacy of salmeterol or beclomethasone for persistent asthma.
BACKGROUND
There is a paucity of data comparing the long-term safety and efficacy of long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists versus low-dose inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the safety and efficacy of salmeterol xinafoate, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), and placebo over a 6-month treatment period in patients with persistent asthma.


METHODS
Salmeterol (42 microg twice daily), BDP (84 microg four times daily), or placebo was administered via metered-dose inhaler to 386 adolescent and adult inhaled corticosteroid-naive patients in a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study. Eligible patients demonstrated a forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) from 65% to 90% of predicted values. Pulmonary function, symptom control, frequency of asthma exacerbations, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine challenge, and adverse events were assessed.


RESULTS
There were few statistically significant differences between the two active treatments over 6 months of therapy. Asthma symptoms and lung function were significantly improved with both salmeterol and BDP compared with placebo (changes from baseline in FEV1 of 0.28 L (SE = 0.04) and 0.23 L (SE = 0.04), respectively, compared with 0.08 L (SE = 0.04); P < or = .014). There were no significant differences among the treatment groups with respect to the distribution of asthma exacerbations over time. Both salmeterol and BDP significantly reduced BHR compared with placebo (P < or = .033; changes from baseline of 1.29 (SE = 0.26) and 1.42 (SE = 0.24) doubling doses at 6 months, respectively, compared with 0.24 (SE = 0.29) doubling dose for placebo). No rebound effect in BHR was seen upon cessation of any of the three treatment regimens. There were no clinically important differences in the safety profiles among the three treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
Both salmeterol and BDP are effective and well-tolerated when administered for 6 months to inhaled corticosteroid-naive patients with persistent asthma.
Asthma and Allergy Associates, PC, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
R A
RA
Nathan
J L
JL
Pinnas
H J
HJ
Schwartz
J
J
Grossman
S W
SW
Yancey
A H
AH
Emmett
K A
KA
Rickard
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000420:Albuterol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate; D010919:Placebos; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency
D010919:Placebos; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D001507:Beclomethasone; D000420:Albuterol