[A comparison of bronchodilating drugs in the treatment of stable COPD]

The purpose of this study was to establish the optimal bronchodilating drug among therapies currently available for clinical treatment of the stable phase of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The efficacy of ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms, salbutamol 200 micrograms, and ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms plus salbutamol 200 micrograms was compared in 14 patients with COPD. Daily PEFR was obtained during the last seven days of a 2 week period incorporating drug inhalation four times daily. FEV1 and FVC were assessed on the final day of the treatment period. In the absence of bronchodilating medication, FEV1 was 1.27 +/- 0.13 l (52.9 +/- 5.1% pred). With ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms alone, FEV1 was 1.43 +/- 0.13 l (59.8 +/- 5.3% pred). A similar value was obtained for salbutamol 200 micrograms: 1.45 +/- 0.14 l (61.0 +/- 5.4% pred). However, FEV1 following the administration of ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms in combination with salbutamol 200 micrograms was 1.51 +/- 0.13 l (63.6 +/- 5.3% pred). The percent increase in FEV1 (compared to the value obtained without medication) was significantly higher with combined ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms plus salbutamol 200 micrograms (122.2 +/- 3.8%) than with either ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms (114.8 +/- 5.5%) or salbutamol 200 micrograms (116.5 +/- 4.4%) alone. Furthermore, the daily post-dilator PEFR improved significantly more with the combined therapy four times a day (311 +/- 29 l/min) than with either ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms (296 +/- 30 l/min) or salbutamol 200 micrograms (303 +/- 29 l/min) therapy alone. There was no discernible difference between results obtained with ipratropium bromide 40 micrograms versus salbutamol 200 micrograms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)