title: The anti-inflammatory profile of inhaled corticosteroids combined with salmeterol in asthmatic patients.
abstract: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy such as fluticasone propionate (FP) is effective in moderate-to-severe asthma, but for patients on ICS who still experience symptoms, treatment guidelines recommend either increasing the dose of ICS or adding a long-acting beta2-agonist such as salmeterol or formoterol. Several studies have now shown that adding salmeterol provides greater clinical benefit than increasing the dose of ICS, raising the question of whether salmeterol has an additive or complementary anti-inflammatory effect to that of ICS. Recent studies on bronchial biopsies and bronchoalveolar lavage from asthmatic patients treated with either salmeterol. FP or placebo in addition to low-dose ICS have demonstrated that addition of salmeterol produces independent or additional reductions in several pro-inflammatory cells, cytokines and cell adhesion molecules compared with FP. Such complementary anti-inflammatory effects may explain the improved control of asthma symptoms and exacerbations observed when salmeterol is added to low-dose ICS therapy, and may help to modify the long-term sequelae of asthma. These findings also indicate, contrary to earlier speculation, that salmeterol does not have a pro-inflammatory effect or mask persistent airway inflammation. This review presents the results of recent studies and suggests possible mechanisms for the additional antiinflammatory effects of salmeterol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Hospital and Monash University Medical School, Melbourne, Australia. haydn.walters@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bjermer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Faurschou
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sandström
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000209:etiology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol