[The verge and the abyss: tiotropium (Spiriva) in COPD]

Tiotropium, a Long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator, has many beneficial effects in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Among them are: a bronchodilator effect which is additive to that of beta-adrenergic agonists, that persists long-term without tolerance; reduction of dyspnea; improved exercise tolerance; enhanced response to rehabilitation; improved quality of life; and reduced frequency of exacerbations and hospital admissions. Therefore, tiotropium is widely used, and has been added to the Health Basket by the Israel Ministry of Health. In March 2008, the manufacturer informed the US Food and Drug Administration (FDAI that ongoing safety monitoring had identified a possible increased risk of stroke in patients who take this medicine. In September 2008, Singh and colleagues published a meta-analysis suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular events in COPD patients treated with tiotropium, although there was no difference in overall mortality. A month later, the UPLIFT investigators published a 4 year placebo-controlled trial of tiotropium involving 5993 patients, in which there were slightly less cardiovascular events in the treatment group, and a trend to reduced overall mortality. The authors review the benefits and safety data, and conclude that while the benefits of tiotropium in COPD are clear, the evidence of an adverse effect on cardiovascular mortality is not sufficiently convincing. Hence, the balance of evidence supports continued use of tiotropium, especially in severe COPD.