RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to investigate whether a fixed combination of salmeterol and fluticasone (SFC) from a single inhaler provides sufficient asthma control comparable to that achieved with standard treatment (inhaled steroid in a dose of 1,000 mcg BDP- (beclomethasone dipropionate) equivalent plus a LABA and/or theophylline and/or montelukast). PATIENTS AND METHODS: In a prospective, randomised study patients with moderate or severe asthma were either switched to a twice daily inhalation of 50 mcg salmeterol plus 500 mcg fluticasone from the Viani forte 50/500 mcg Diskus (n = 142 patients), or they were maintained on standard treatment (n = 89 patients). If adequate asthma control was achieved after 8 weeks, the dose of the inhaled steroid was reduced by 50 % during weeks 9 to 16. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, 81 % of the patients who had been switched to SFC and 80 % of patients on standard treatment achieved sufficient asthma control. After reducing the ICS dose by 50 %, asthma control remained appropriate in 90 % of SFC-patients, but only in 75 % of patients receiving standard treatment (p = 0.031). In addition, asthma symptoms and use of rescue medication were significantly more stable in SFC patients (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: With the salmeterol fluticasone combination product, patients with moderate asthma can achieve a control of their asthma, which is as good as that after standard treatment. In most SFC patients the fluticasone dosage can be reduced by 50 % without losing asthma control.