[The effect of a single dose of 50 micrograms of salmeterol (Serevent, Glaxo) on pulmonary functional parameters]

The study aimed at estimating the acting duration of salmeterol (Serevent, Glaxo), a long-term beta 2-agonist bronchodilator, when given in a single dose (50 micrograms). Two flow rates (FEV1, MEF50) the overall airways resistance to flow (Raw), and intrathoracic gas volume (ITGV) were measured at 15 minutes, then every two hours, up to 12 hours after salmeterol administration, in 8 asthma patients with ample reversible obstructive ventilation disfunction. Lung function parameters were quickly improved, and remained at higher values than the initial ones even at 12 hours after drug administration, the bronchodilating effect being of a similar amplitude for Raw, ITGV and MEF50, which suggests a favorable answer both in the whole bronchial tree and the peripheral airways segment.