[Efficacy of salmeterol in patients with allergic bronchial asthma]

Inhaled beta 2-agonists play a central role in the treatment of acute bronchial asthma. A new long-acting beta 2-receptor agonist has recently become available: salmeterol. It improves FEV 1, has an antiinflammatory effect on bronchial airways, provides a strong protection against histamine-and allergen-triggered bronchoconstriction, thus leading to better control of asthmatic symptoms during day and night. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of salmeterol in 22 patients with allergic bronchial asthma. Our results show that inhaled salmeterol (50 micrograms twice daily) can successfully control diurnal and nocturnal asthmatic attacks and can induce an important increase of PEFR. During the study no further treatment with bronchodilator drugs was necessary.