6533b834fe1ef96bd129dfbe

RESEARCH PRODUCT

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

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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. Onset of action was measured by airway resistance (sRaw) before and after two weeks of treatment. RESULTS Compared with Salmeterol, Formoterol had a significantly faster onset of action (10 % decrease of Raw) at baseline (F: 1.4 +/- 0.9 vs. S: 15.1 +/- 34.5 min., p < 0.0001) and after two weeks of treatment (F: 6.2 +/- 21.6 vs. S: 51 +/- 135 min., p < 0.0001). Morning FEV(1) improved similarily during treatment in both study groups, when compared with baseline lung function (F: 1.38 +/- 0.64 vs. 1 +/- 0.41 l; S: 1.43 +/- 0.67 vs. 1 +/- 0.4 l, p < 0.05, both comparisons). Both treatments were well tolerated. CONCLUSION Formoterol produces a rapid improvement of airway resistance in patients with moderate to severe, partially reversible airway obstruction. The onset of bronchodilation was significantly faster for Formoterol compared with Salmeterol. Both drugs improved lung function similarily after two weeks of treatment. It is important to distinguish beta2-agonists not only into short- and long-acting but also into fast- and slow-acting.