title: Effect of formoterol with or without budesonide in repeated low-dose allergen challenge.
abstract: The use of combination therapy in mild asthma is debated. The current authors evaluated the effects of formoterol alone and a formoterol/budesonide combination inhaler on asthma deterioration induced by repeated low-dose allergen exposure. In total, 15 subjects with intermittent allergic asthma inhaled low doses of allergen on seven consecutive weekdays in a three-period, crossover, double-blind, double-dummy comparison between formoterol 4.5 microg Turbuhaler, budesonide 160 microg/formoterol 4.5 microg Turbuhaler and placebo, each taken as two puffs 30 min after allergen dosing. The outcome variables were: provocative dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD(20)), exhaled nitric oxide fraction (F(eNO)), sputum eosinophils and prostaglandin D(2), and diary card recordings of symptoms (on a scale of 0-10), short-acting beta(2)-agonist use and evening forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1)). With placebo treatment, allergen exposure caused significant increases in airway hyperresponsiveness (geometric mean (coefficient of variation) PD(20): 397 (98) microg before versus 168 (82) microg after), F(eNO) (mean+/-sd 46+/-31 ppb before versus 73+/-46 ppb after) and asthma symptom score (mean+/-sd 0.39+/-0.55 before versus 0.68+/-0.67 after). Budesonide/formoterol abolished these changes and significantly improved baseline FEV(1). Formoterol alone, while providing symptom relief, was no better than placebo in protecting against the allergen-induced increase in airway inflammation. Signs of deteriorating asthma, provoked by low-dose allergen, are prevented by short-term use of budesonide/formoterol but not by temporary use of formoterol alone.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Dept of Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. barbro.dahlen@ki.se
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dahlén
authors.forename: A-S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lantz
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ihre
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skedinger
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Henriksson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jörgensen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ekström
authors.forename: S-E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Dahlén
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Larsson
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate; D006801:Humans; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D004983:Ethanolamines; D019819:Budesonide; D000068759:Formoterol Fumarate