Ji. Peters et al., A randomized, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the role of salmeterol in the in-hospital management of asthma, CHEST, 118(2), 2000, pp. 313-320
Citations number
32
Categorie Soggetti
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Systems","Cardiovascular & Hematology Research
Study objectives: To assess the safety and efficacy of salmeterol xinafoate
as an adjunct to conventional therapy for the in-hospital management of ac
ute asthma,
Design: A prospective, double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial,
Setting: Medical wards of a large university-based hospital.
Patients: Forty-three patients admitted for an acute exacerbation of asthma
,
Interventions: Salmeterol (42 mu g) or two puffs of placebo every 12 h in a
ddition to standard therapy (short-acting beta-agonists, corticosteroids, a
nd anticholinergic agents),
Results: No clinically adverse effects were seen with the addition of salme
terol to conventional therapy. After salmeterol, there was no difference in
pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry, severity of
symptoms, or dyspnea score. Patients receiving salmeterol had greater FEV1
percent improvements than the placebo group at 12, 24, 36, and 48 h, These
findings were not statistically significant. By paired Student's t tests, t
here were significant improvements in FEV1 (p = 0.03) and FVC (p = 0.03) in
the salmeterol group after 48 h of treatment with no comparable improvemen
t in the placebo group. In a subgroup analysis of patients with an initial
FEV1 less than or equal to 1.5 L, the absolute FEV1 percent improvement for
salmeterol vs placebo was 51% vs 16% at 24 h and 54% vs 40% at 48 h, The r
elative FEV1 percent improvement for salmeterol vs placebo was 17% vs 8% at
24 h and 18% vs 14% at 48 h,
Conclusion: The addition of salmeterol to conventional therapy is safe and
may benefit hospitalized patients with asthma, Further studies are needed t
o clarify its role in the treatment of acute exacerbation of asthma.