Bodyplethysmographischer Wirkeintritt von Formoterol bei Patienten mit mittel- bis schwergradiger partiell reversibler Atemwegsobstruktion

BACKGROUND Formoterol is a long acting beta2-agonist used for the treatment of obstructive airway diseases. Compared with Salmeterol, Formoterol has a rapid onset of bronchodilation. There are only scant data regarding the comparative onset of action using bodyplethysmography in moderate to severely obstructive patients. METHODS In a mono-center, single-blinded parallel group study 60 patients (age: 61.9 +/- 12.8 years, 65 % male) with moderate to severe (mean FEV(1) 40.6 +/- 15.3 % of predicted), partially reversible (FEV(1) post bronchodilator > 15 % from baseline) airway obstruction were treated with either formoterol 12 microg bid or salmeterol 50 microg bid over a period of two weeks. …