Effects of formoterol and salmeterol on resting inspiratory capacity in COPD patients with poor FEV(1) reversibility.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies suggest that inspiratory capacity (IC) measured at rest can be used to predict improvements in dyspnea and exercise tolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. In this study we compared the effect of formoterol (Foradil, Aerolizer) and salmeterol (Serevent, Diskus) in terms of IC in patients with COPD.


METHODS
This was a multicentre, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-dose, double-dummy, crossover study conducted in five secondary care centres in four European countries. A total of 47 patients with Stage II and III COPD, as defined by ATS criteria, with an increase in forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV(1)) of <or= 12% from the patient's predicted normal value after salbutamol inhalation were included. Patients inhaled single doses of formoterol (12 and 24 microg), salmeterol (50 and 100 microg) or matching placebo. IC was recorded before dosing and at 5, 10, 15 and 30 min and 1, 2, 3 and 4 h post-dose.


RESULTS
Formoterol was significantly superior to salmeterol during the first hour post-dose as indicated by notable differences at all times during the first hour post-dose and by the ANCOVA analysis of the Area Under the IC Curve (AUC(0-1 h)).


CONCLUSIONS
Both formoterol and salmeterol increase IC in patients with COPD, with formoterol 12 microg showing a significantly greater increase in IC over the first hour post-dose than salmeterol 50 microg, consistent with a more rapid onset of action.
Bouros
Demosthenes
D
Department of Thoracic Medicine, University Hospital, Alexandroupolis, Greece. bouros@med.duth.gr
Kottakis
John
J
Le Gros
Vincent
V
Overend
Tim
T
Della Cioppa
Giovanni
G
Siafakas
Nikolaos
N
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000420:Albuterol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D007320:Inspiratory Capacity / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D000068299:Salmeterol Xinafoate; D000420:Albuterol; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate