Effects of the tulobuterol patch on the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in young children.
The tulobuterol patch (TP) is a beta(2)-adrenergic agonist with a favorable pharmacokinetic profile used for asthma management in Japan. Because it contains tulobuterol in a molecular, crystallized form that is gradually absorbed percutaneously, TP exerts a prolonged bronchodilator effect exceeding 24 hours. Although it is a well-established treatment for asthma and wheezing, few studies have investigated whether it can reduce or prevent the symptoms associated with upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in young children. This study evaluated the effect of TP on the long-term management of asthma in young children. In this 1-year, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, children aged 0.5-3 years old with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma were treated with either TP or placebo patch. The parents/guardians applied the TP or placebo patch to their children after URTI symptoms appeared. Respiratory symptoms were recorded daily during the 1-year observation period. Overall, 86 patients were enrolled and 80 were treated and analyzed in this study. All patients had been treated with anti-inflammatory drugs before enrollment. The time to symptom resolution was significantly shorter (p = 0.001) and the total respiratory symptom score (p = 0.0457) was significantly lower in the TP group than in the placebo group. In young children with mild-to-moderate asthma who had been treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, using the TP soon after the appearance of URTI symptoms led to quicker resolution of respiratory symptoms and lower respiratory symptom scores.
Department of Pediatrics, Jikei Daisan Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. tkatsunuma@jikei.ac.jp
Toshio
T
Katsunuma
Yukihiro
Y
Ohya
Takao
T
Fujisawa
Kenichi
K
Akashi
Naoto
N
Imamura
Motohiro
M
Ebisawa
Kazunari
K
Daikoku
Naomi
N
Kondo
Akihiko
A
Terada
Satoru
S
Doi
Toshiyuki
T
Nishimuta
Takeshi
T
Noma
Yuhei
Y
Hamasaki
Kazuyuki
K
Kurihara
Kei
K
Masuda
Takashi
T
Yamada
Masanori
M
Yamada
Shigemi
S
Yoshihara
Kazuhiko
K
Watanabe
Tohru
T
Watanabe
Taeru
T
Kitabayashi
Akihiro
A
Morikawa
Sankei
S
Nishima
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057968:Transdermal Patch; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; C010809:tulobuterol; D013726:Terbutaline