Forced expiratory volume in one second expressed as % predicted, before and after inhalation of placebo or formoterol, in the oral placebo and prednisolone group during the study
| Placebo inhalation | Formoterol inhalation | ||||
| Baseline d5/7 | Treatment d5/7* | Baseline d5/7 | Treatment d1 | Treatment d5/7* | |
| Oral placebo | |||||
| Pre inhalation | 88.7±3.7 | 88.5±4.4 | 90.0±4.2 | 87.1±4.9 | 88.9±4.3 |
| Post inhalation | 89.9±3.3 | 89.3±4.2 | 95.2±4.0 | 92.5±4.6 | 93.4±3.8 |
| Prednisolone | |||||
| Pre inhalation | 95.5±4.1 | 91.5±3.8 | 92.5±3.8 | 92.4±4.6 | 93.6±4.4 |
| Post inhalation | 98.5±4.2 | 92.0±4.4 | 97.8±3.6 | 98.4±4.0 | 97.7±4.9 |
Data are presented as mean±SEM. *: d5/7: double-blind, randomized pretreatment with placebo or formoterol inhalation was administered to the patient on days 5 and 7 of the baseline and oral treatment period. The randomization order was the same during the two periods.