Abstract
Aim of this study was to assess the effects of extrafine beclomethasone⁄formoterol treatment on lung hyperinflation and airway geometry in COPD. Data of lobar volume (%pred) and specific lobar airway volumes (siVaw) at FRC and TLC were obtained with functional imaging in 25 COPD patients (GOLD II 14, III 7, IV 4) pre- and 4h post-bronchodilator (post BD) both at baseline and after 6 months of treatment. A post BD drop was observed for both functional residual capacity (FRC) and total lung capacity (TLC) lobar volumes at baseline (FRC:-10%,p<0.01;TLC:-2%,p<0.01) and after 6 months (FRC:-12%,p<0.01;TLC:-2%,p<0.01) as index of reduced hyperinflation. siVaw did increase 4 hours after administration at both time points (+10%,p<0.01, and +8%,p<0.01).
The 4h post-BD drop in hyperinflation at FRC was positively associated with the degree of hyperinflation (r=0.4, p<0.01). A drop in pre-bronchodilation hyperinflation was also observed at TLC after 6 months of treatment (-1%, p<0.01). Extrafine beclomethasone/formoterol decreased hyperinflation and increased airway volume in COPD patients 4h after bronchodilator. Moreover the chronic treatment over 6 months decreased also the pre-bronchodilator hyperinflation at TLC, indicating a progressive reduction of air trapping with treatment.
- © 2012 ERS
