Cited 123 times since 2009 (8.4 per year) source: EuropePMC Annals of internal medicine, Volume 151, Issue 8, 1 1 2009, Pages 517-527 Effect of fluticasone with and without salmeterol on pulmonary outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a randomized trial. Lapperre TS, Snoeck-Stroband JB, Gosman MM, Jansen DF, van Schadewijk A, Thiadens HA, Vonk JM, Boezen HM, Ten Hacken NH, Sont JK, Rabe KF, Kerstjens HA, Hiemstra PS, Timens W, Postma DS, Sterk PJ, Groningen Leiden Universities Corticosteroids in Obstructive Lung Disease Study Group
Background
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) and long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABAs) are used to treat moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Objective
To determine whether long-term ICS therapy, with and without LABAs, reduces inflammation and improves pulmonary function in COPD.
Design
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00158847)
Setting
2 university medical centers in The Netherlands.
Patients
114 steroid-naive current or former smokers with moderate to severe COPD.
Measurements
Cell counts in bronchial biopsies and sputum (primary outcome); methacholine responsiveness at baseline, 6, and 30 months; and clinical outcomes every 3 months.
Intervention
Random assignment by minimization method to receive fluticasone propionate, 500 microg twice daily, for 6 months (n = 31) or 30 months (n = 26); fluticasone, 500 microg twice daily, and salmeterol, 50 microg twice daily, for 30 months (single inhaler; n = 28); or placebo twice daily (n = 29).
Results
101 patients were greater than 70% adherent to therapy. Fluticasone therapy decreased counts of mucosal CD3(+) cells (-55% [95% CI, -74% to -22%]; P = 0.004), CD4(+) cells (-78% [CI, -88% to 60%]; P < 0.001), CD8(+) cells (-57% [CI, -77% to -18%]; P = 0.010), and mast cells (-38% [CI, -60% to -2%]; P = 0.039) and reduced hyperresponsiveness (P = 0.036) versus placebo at 6 months, with effects maintained after 30 months. Fluticasone therapy for 30 months reduced mast cell count and increased eosinophil count and percentage of intact epithelium, with accompanying reductions in sputum neutrophil, macrophage, and lymphocyte counts and improvements in FEV(1) decline, dyspnea, and quality of life. Reductions in inflammatory cells correlated with clinical improvements. Discontinuing fluticasone therapy at 6 months increased counts of CD3(+) cells (120% [CI, 24% to 289%]; P = 0.007), mast cells (218% [CI, 99% to 407%]; P < 0.001), and plasma cells (118% [CI, 9% to 336%]; P = 0.028) and worsened clinical outcome. Adding salmeterol improved FEV(1) level.
Limitations
The study was not designed to evaluate clinical outcomes. Measurement of primary outcome was not available for 24% of patients at 30 months.
Conclusion
ICS therapy decreases inflammation and can attenuate decline in lung function in steroid-naive patients with moderate to severe COPD. Adding LABAs does not enhance these effects. .
