Bronchodilator effect of an inhaled combination therapy with salmeterol plus fluticasone and formoterol plus budesonide in patients with COPD

In the present trial, we compared the broncholytic efficacy of the combination therapy with 50 mug salmeterol + 250 mug fluticasone and 12 mug formoterol + 400 mug budesonide, both in a single inhaler device, in 16 patients with moderate-to-severe COPD. The study was performed using a single-blind crossover randomized study Lung function, pulse oximetry (SpO(2)) and heart rate were monitored before and 15,30,60,120,180, 240,300,360,480,600, and 720 min after bronchodilator inhalation. Both combinations were effective in reducing airflow obstruction. FEV1 AUC(0-12) (h) was 2.831 (95% CI: 2.13-3.54) after salmeterol/fluticasone and 2.571 (95% Cl: 1.97-3.2) after formoterol/budesonide. Formoterol/budesonide elicited the mean maximum improvement in FEV1 above baseline after 120 min (0.29 1; 95% Cl: 0.21-0.37) and salmeterol/fluticasone after 300 min (0.32 1; 95% Cl: 0.23-041). At 720 min, the increase in FEV1 over baseline values was 0.10 1 (95%Cl: 0.07-0.12) after salmeterol/fluticasone and 0.10 1 (95% Cl: 0.07-0.13) after formoterol/budesonide. The mean peak increase in heart rate occurred 300 min after formoterol/budesonide (1.5 b/min; 95% Cl -2.3 to 5.3) and 360 min after salmeterol/fluticasone (2.6 b/min; 95% CI -1.9 to 70). SpO(2) did not change. All differences between salmeterol/fluticasone and formoterol/budesonide were not significant (P > 0.05) except those in FEV1 at 120 and 360 min. The results indicate that an inhaled combination therapy with a long-acting beta(2)-agonist and an inhaled corticosteroid appears to be effective in improving airway limitation after acute administration in patients suffering from COPD. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.