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The first 20 minutes after a single dose of inhaled salmeterol in asthmatic children

A Barbato1, A Cracco, F Tormena

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University Medical School, Padua, Italy.

Allergy
|June 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Salmeterol shows a delayed but sustained effect in children with mild asthma, with improvements noted by 10 and 20 minutes. While salbutamol acts faster initially, salmeterol offers a more consistent bronchodilatory effect over time.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on salmeterol's efficacy in pediatric asthma patients.
  • Understanding the onset of action for asthma medications in children is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the onset and duration of action between salmeterol and salbutamol in children with mild asthma.
  • To evaluate the effects of these bronchodilators on lung function and vital signs.

Main Methods:

  • A double-blind, randomized trial involving 11 children with mild asthma.
  • Administration of salmeterol (50 mcg), salbutamol (200 mcg), or placebo on alternate days.
  • Measurement of Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF), heart rate, and blood pressure at baseline and 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes post-inhalation.

Main Results:

  • Salbutamol demonstrated a quicker initial increase in PEF at 5 and 10 minutes, while salmeterol showed better PEF at 10 and 20 minutes.
  • Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) showed a consistent rise with salmeterol, whereas salbutamol's effect diminished after 10 minutes.
  • Salmeterol caused a transient increase in heart rate at 5 minutes, unlike salbutamol which had no significant effect on heart rate or blood pressure.

Conclusions:

  • Salmeterol initiates its bronchodilatory effect within 10 minutes in pediatric asthma patients, though its onset is slower than salbutamol.
  • Salmeterol provides a more sustained improvement in lung function compared to salbutamol in this pediatric cohort.
  • The study highlights the potential of salmeterol for managing mild pediatric asthma, with careful monitoring of initial cardiovascular effects.

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