[Increasing physical endurance with salmeterol]

10 patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were assessed by lung function tests at rest and spiroergometry before and 1 resp. 7 hours after inhalation of 50 micrograms salmeterol. The parameters changed as follows: Forced exspiratory volume in 1 second: +16% +/- 6% after 1 resp. +13% +/- 5% after 7 hours; airway resistance: -43% +/- 11% resp. -43 +/- 9%. Work capacity at the anaerobic threshold (AT): +44% +/- 17% resp. +37% +/- 16%, oxygen consumption at the AT (VO2AT): +53% +/- 18% resp. +54 +/- 23%, ventilation at the AT (VEAT): +31% +/- 11% resp. 30% +/- 7%. Maximum work capacity: +14 +/- 5% resp. +22 +/- 7%, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max) +58 +/- 24% resp. 64 +/- 22%, maximum ventilation (VEmax) +33 +/- 10% resp. + 46 +/- 11%. In conclusion, salmeterol leads to a long lasting improvement of exercise capacity. This is related to the improvement of the ventilation caused by salmeterol. Significant changes of heart rate or blood pressure were not observed.