Source: DGNews  |  Posted 9 years ago

By Alison Palkhivala
Special to DG News

SAN DIEGO, CA -- November 8, 2002 -- Formoterol can protect children against exercise-induced asthma for up to 12 hours, according to a study presented here November 7 at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST).

"Formoterol is a long acting beta2 bronchodilator that has been available in Europe for a period of time and much more recently is available in the United States," said David Pearlman, MD, from the Colorado Allergy and Asthma Center in Denver, Colorado, United States.

For this double-blind, double-dummy, four-way crossover study, 23 children aged 4 to 11 were randomised into one of four treatment regimens: formoterol 12 mg, formoterol 24 mg, albuterol 180 mg or placebo. Every patient received each of these treatments one time on four separate visits. They then underwent six-minute treadmill exercise challenges 15 minutes, four hours, eight hours and 12 hours after taking the test drug.

The investigators measured the children's forced expiratory volume at 1 second (FEV1) levels prior to taking the drug as well as over one hour following each six-minute treadmill exercise challenge.

Patients taking either dose of formoterol experienced a smaller drop in maximum percentage fall in FEV1 during exercise from the pre-exercise level compared with those taking albuterol (p<0.02) and placebo (p<0.01) during exercise four hours after taking the medication.

They experienced a smaller drop in maximum percentage fall in FEV1 during exercise from the pre-treatment level compared with placebo at all time points and compared with albuterol at four, eight and 12 hours.

The number of patients who required rescue medication during exercise was 43 percent for those taking albuterol, 36 percent for those on placebo, nine percent for those taking the 12 mcg dose of formoterol and four percent for those taking the 24 mcg dose of the drug.

Overall, 77 percent of patients taking 12 mcg of formoterol and 74 percent of patients taking 24 mcg of formoterol were protected from exercise-induced bronchospasm, defined as a maximum percentage fall in FEV1 of more than 20 percent. This is in contrast to only 35 percent of patients taking albuterol and 27 percent of patients on placebo who were protected.

The advantage of a long acting bronchodilator is that many kids do not want to take medications in front of other kids, said Dr. Pearlman. The long acting agents have the advantage that they can be taken at home and provide protection, at least in part, all day, he said.

He added that "if kids realize they can be protected for a long period of time, they might improve their compliance with treatment."

Dr. Pearlman's study on the use of formoterol in children with exercise-induced asthma was sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, makers of formoterol, and involved Novartis researchers.