Long-term effects of a long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, salmeterol, on airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with mild asthma

N Engl J Med. 1992 Oct 22;327(17):1198-203. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199210223271703.

Abstract

Background: Asthma is characterized by hyperresponsiveness of the airways to bronchoconstrictive stimuli. Long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists have been introduced as a new therapeutic approach, but there is growing concern about whether control of asthma may deteriorate with the regular use of these agents. We investigated the long-term effects of the beta 2 agonist salmeterol on bronchodilation and on airway hyperresponsiveness to the bronchoconstrictive agent methacholine in mild asthma.

Methods: In a parallel, double-blind study, 24 patients with mild asthma were randomly assigned to treatment with either inhaled salmeterol (50 micrograms, twice daily) (n = 12) or placebo (n = 12) during an eight-week trial. Methacholine challenge was performed before, during, and after the treatment period. Methacholine responsiveness was measured as the provocative concentration (PC20) that caused a 20 percent decrease in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1).

Results: There was a significant increase in FEV1 one hour after the inhalation of salmeterol (P = 0.006), which did not differ significantly on days 0, 28, and 56 of the treatment period (increase, 9.8, 9.4, and 8.8 percent of predicted FEV1, respectively; P = 0.91). On the first treatment day, salmeterol afforded significant protection against methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction, as shown by a 10-fold increase in the PC20 as compared with the value at entry (P less than 0.001). After four and eight weeks of treatment, however, the salmeterol-induced change in the PC20 was significantly attenuated (P less than 0.001) to only a twofold increase. Two and four days after treatment ended, the PC20 was not significantly different from the value before treatment (P = 0.15).

Conclusions: Regular treatment of patients with mild asthma with salmeterol leads to tolerance to its protective effects against a bronchoconstrictor stimulus, in this case inhaled methacholine, despite well-maintained bronchodilation. This finding raises concern about the effectiveness of prolonged therapy with long-acting beta 2-adrenoceptor agonists in asthma.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / administration & dosage*
  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists / adverse effects
  • Adult
  • Albuterol / administration & dosage
  • Albuterol / adverse effects
  • Albuterol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Bronchial Provocation Tests
  • Bronchoconstriction / drug effects
  • Bronchodilator Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Bronchodilator Agents / adverse effects
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Drug Tolerance
  • Female
  • Forced Expiratory Volume
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Agonists
  • Bronchodilator Agents
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Salmeterol Xinafoate
  • Albuterol