PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ohbayashi, Hiroyuki
TI  - Improved effects of aerosol-type fluticasone propionate/formoterol combination on residual asthmatic inflammation in distal airways of patients with moderate asthma
DP  - 2014 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P2428
VI  - 44
IP  - Suppl 58
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2428.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/44/Suppl_58/P2428.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2014 Sep 01; 44
AB  - Aims: To investigate whether aerosol-type fluticasone propionate/formoterol combination (FFC) controls residual eosinophilic inflammation in the distal airways of well-controlled asthmatic patients more effectively than salmeterol/fluticasone propionate combination (SFC).Methods: Subjects comprised 32 outpatients (61.9±17.0 years) with well-controlled moderate asthma who had used SFC for more than 4 weeks. Evidence of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in 10% hypertonic saline-induced sputum was assessed, together with pulmonary function tests, respiratory resistance, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and an Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-5).Results: ECP levels in late-phase sputum (117.6±144.7 mg/L at study entry) were significantly decreased 65.7±89.5 (p=0.019) at 4 weeks in the FFC group, but not in the SFC group. FeNo levels (44.8±23.5 ppb at study entry) were also significantly decreased to 37.8±23.5 (p=0.025) at 4 weeks in the FFC group. None of the indexes of pulmonary function tests or respiratory resistance changed significantly in either group during the study period. ACQ-5 scores showed no significant change; however, they tended to improve in the FFC group.Conclusion: This study suggests that FFC may offer better control of residual eosinophilic inflammation in distal airways than SFC therapy.