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Comparison of the effects of salmeterol and salbutamol on clinical activity and eosinophil cationic protein serum levels during the pollen season in atopic asthmatics
Author(s) -
LORENZO G.,
MORICI G.,
NORRITO F.,
MANSUETO P.,
MELLUSO M.,
D'AMBROSIO F. PURELLO,
SANGIORGI G. BARBAGALLO
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.1995.tb00397.x
Subject(s) - salbutamol , salmeterol , eosinophil cationic protein , eosinophil , medicine , asthma , bronchodilator , evening , morning , immunology , endocrinology , physics , astronomy
Summary Background In atopic asthma there is strong evidence of eosinophils playing an active role in pathogencsis. Some investigations demonstrated that eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) serum levels increased in atopic patients with asthma during pollen season. Objective The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of short‐term (1 week) β2‐agonist treatment on lung function and eosinophil activity in asthmatic patients. Methods We used an open, randomized, cross‐over design to compare the effects of salbutamol (200μg q.i.d.) and salmeterol (50μg b.i.d.) on peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), blood eosinophil count and serum levels of ECP as a measure of eosinophil activity in 20 mild atopic asthmatics. Results Morning and evening PEFR values were both significantly higher during salmeterol treatment than during the salbutamol period. Conversely, both morning and evening daily asthma symptom scores were significantly lower during salmeterol treatment compared with those recorded during the salbutamol period. The mean basal eosinophil blood count on salmeterol treatment (601 ± 189mm 3 ) was not higher than the mean count on salbutamol treatment (612 ± 204 mm 3 ). After both treatments the mean eosinophil blood counts were unchanged (619 ± 189mm 3 and 576 ±212 mm 3 , respectively). No significant differences in blood eosinophil counts were observed between or within treatments at any time. No significant difference was observed in baseline mean ECP serum concentration (43.8 ± 263 μg L on salmeterol treatment and 41.7 ± 29.8 μg L on salbutamol treatment, respectively). After salmeterol treatment the mean ECP serum concentration had fallen significantly to 20.9± 18.6μg/L (P < 0.01), whereas after salbutamol treatment it was unchanged (42.0 ± 25.1 μg /L). Salmeterol treatment produced a decrease in ECP serum levels without any changes in blood eosinophil count. Conclusion This study demonstrates that salmeterol affords a significant improvement in asthma control during the pollen season, measured by both subjective and objective parameters, compared with salbutamol. This greater efficacy may be related to inhibition of eosinophil degranulation during the pollen season.