title: Effects of 2 weeks of treatment with fluticasone propionate 100 mcg b.d. by comparison with zafirlukast 20 mg b.d. on bronchial hyper-responsiveness in patients with mild to moderate asthma.
abstract: This study was designed to compare the effects of low-dose inhaled fluticasone propionate (100 mcg twice daily) with those of the leukotriene antagonist, zafirlukast (20 mg twice daily), on bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The study recruited 30 patients (nine men, 21 women; mean age 45 years) with forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) > 50% and airway reversibility to salbutamol > or =15%. This was a single centre, double-blind, double-dummy cross-over study, composed of two successive 2-week treatment periods, each preceded by a 2-4 week single-blind placebo period. Following 2 weeks of treatment with fluticasone propionate and zafirlukast, the mean provocational concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20) histamine was 1.61 mg ml(-1) (SD 2.34) and 0.99 mg ml(-1) (SD 1.74) respectively. Taking baseline differences into account, the difference between treatments was equivalent to 0.77 doubling doses of histamine (95% CI, 0.05-1.50; P=0.037). Morning peak flow values were significantly higher (17 l min(-1); P=0.049) after treatment with fluticasone propionate during the second week of treatment. Both treatments were well tolerated. The results of this short-term study show that compared with zafirlukast, a low dose of fluticasone propionate offers greater clinical benefit and is more cost effective.
authors.affiliation: De Tjongerschans Algemeen Ziekenhuis, Heerenveen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westbroek
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Pasma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate / Q000502:physiology; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D007211:Indoles; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; D000068298:Fluticasone; C062735:zafirlukast