Sahneterol gets asthma back under control

THERAPY

Rather than increasing the dose of inhaled steroid, addition of the long-acting ~2-agonist salmeterol may be better for controlling symptoms and lung function in patients with asthma who are not controlled with standard doses of inhaled steroid. This 'important new information' for the clinical management of such patients has been provided by the results of a study conducted by Allen & Hanburys Limited UK Study Group.

426 evaluable patients with asthmatic symptoms despite treatment with inhaled beclomethasone 200llg bid were randornised to receive concomitant salmeterol 50llg bid or an increased dose of beclomethasone (500llg bid) for 6 months.

The morning peak expiratory flow rate in patients receiving salmeterol was sustained at about 28 Llmin above baseline during the study. This was a significantly greater improvement than that experienced by the high-dose steroid group, in whom the increase in PEFR peaked at 15 Llmin above baseline. Both treatments were well tolerated.

There have been concerns over the safety of ~2-agonists. However, in the present study, there was no evidence that salmeterol increased the frequency or severity of asthma exacerbations, according to the study authors. Greening AP, Ind PW, Northfield M, Shaw G, et aL Added sa!rneterol versus higher-dose corticosteroid in asthma patients with symptoms on existing inhaled corticosteroid. Lancet 344: 219-224, 23 Jul1994 SOO285436

0156·2703194/0948-000131$01.00" Adis International Limited 1994. All rights reserved

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INPHARMA'" 30 Jul1994