HISTAMINE-INDUCED BRONCHOCONSTRICTION IS EQUALLY RELIEVED BY EASYHALE(R) AND DISKHALER(R) SALBUTAMOL POWDER INHALERS

Objective: We compared the clinical efficacy of salbutamol inhaled fro m Easyhaler(R), a multidose powder inhaler (Buventol(R) Easyhaler(R) 2 00 mu g/dose, Orion Pharma, Finland), with that of salbutamol inhaled from Diskhaler(R) powder inhaler (Ventoline(R) Rotadisk(R) 0.2 mg/dose , Glare Wellcome, UK) in the treatment of histamine-induced bronchocon striction. Patients and Methods: The study was an open, randomised, cr ossover study, completed by 18 patients with asthma (mean age 31 +/- 1 5 years). A histamine challenge test was performed on two study days ( separated by a maximum of 7 days) to produce a 15% decrement in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV,), and a single dose of salbutamol 209 mu g was inhaled immediately after challenge on one study day fro m Easyhaler(R) and on the other study day from Diskhaler(R) in randomi sed order. The FEV I and peak expiratory flow (PEF) values were measur ed by spirometer before and immediately after histamine challenge and 5, 15 and 45 minutes after medication. On the second study day, the pa tients were asked to grade the inhalers' characteristics using a quest ionnaire. Results: No statistically significant differences were noted in efficacy variables between the inhalers. The primary efficacy vari able, maximum FEV, values, were 3.29L (SD = 0.55L) and 3.30L (SD = 0.5 6L) with Easyhaler(R) and Diskhaler(R), respectively. The patients con sidered Easyhaler(R) more convenient and easier to use than Diskhaler( R). Conclusion: We conclude that Easyhaler(R) and Diskhaler(R) produce equal bronchodilation when histamine-induced bronchoconstriction is t reated with a 200 mu g dose of salbutamol.