RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Distribution of inhaled fluticasone propionate between human lung tissue and serum in vivo JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 1496 OP 1499 DO 10.1183/09031936.97.10071496 VO 10 IS 7 A1 N Esmailpour A1 P Hogger A1 KF Rabe A1 U Heitmann A1 M Nakashima A1 P Rohdewald YR 1997 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/10/7/1496.abstract AB High retention of inhaled glucocorticoids in the airways means prolonged anti-inflammatory action and low delivery into the serum. The objective of this study was to investigate the retention in and distribution of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) between central and peripheral human lung tissue and serum in vivo. In 17 patients undergoing lung resection surgery, a single 1.0 mg dose of FP was inhaled at varying time-points (range 2.8-21.7 h) preoperatively. Peripheral and central lung tissue was obtained, and blood was drawn simultaneously. FP concentrations in central lung tissue were approximately three to four times higher than peripheral lung tissue concentrations, which in turn, exceeded those found in serum by 10 times. FP was detectable up to 21 and 16 h, respectively, after inhalation, with drug levels falling almost in parallel in peripheral lung tissue and in serum. The results of this study demonstrate that fluticasone propionate is retained in lung tissue for a long time. Serum concentrations after a single inhaled dose are low. Retention of high concentrations of fluticasone propionate in the airways may promote high topical anti-inflammatory activity.