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Salmeterol Improves Pulmonary Function In Heart Failure Patients

Chronically inhaled salmeterol improves pulmonary function in patients with heart failure.

It improves forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) without affecting neuroactivation or ventricular ectopy, investigators report.

They also report a minor increase in rate-pressure product with chronically inhaled salmeterol therapy. However, the clinical significance of this remains to be determined.

The investigators, from the Departments of Pharmacy Practice and Internal Medicine at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, conducted a prospective, randomized crossover study that included eight symptomatic heart failure patients.

Patients had a left ventricular ejection fraction below 40 percent and FEV₁ less than or equal to 80 percent.

Chronic inhaled salmeterol therapy was delivered at a rate of 84 micrograms every 12 hours for 14 days. Its effects were compared with placebo in a cross over fashion.

Results showed that the therapy caused a significant, 6 percent improvement in FEV₁. Salmeterol therapy resulted in an FEV₁ of 2.46 ± 0.73 liters compared with 2.33 ± 0.73 with placebo.

Rate-pressure product also increased by five percent with salmeterol, but there was no increase in plasma norepinephrine, epinephrine, plasma renin activity or ventricular ectopy.

Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory flow and peak expiratory flow rates were similar with chronic inhaled salmeterol or placebo.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 2002; 40(1): 140-145. "Chronically Inhaled Salmeterol Improves Pulmonary Function in Heart Failure"

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