In vivo comparison of the relative systemic bioavailability of fluticasone propionate from three anti-static spacers and a metered dose inhaler

[Diagnosis and treatment of asthma: a guideline for respiratory specialists 2023 - published by the German Respiratory Society (DGP) e. V.]

The management of asthma has fundamentally changed during the past decades. The present guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of asthma was developed for respiratory specialists who need detailed and evidence-based information on the new diagnostic and therapeutic options in asthma. The guideline shows the new role of biomarkers, especially blood eosinophils and fractional exhaled NO (FeNO), in diagnostic algorithms of asthma. Of note, this guideline is the first worldwide to announce symptom prevention and asthma remission as the ultimate goals of asthma treatment, which can be achieved by using individually tailored, disease-modifying anti-asthmatic drugs such as inhaled steroids, allergen immunotherapy or biologics. In addition, the central role of the treatment of comorbidities is emphasized. Finally, the document addresses several challenges in asthma management, including asthma treatment during pregnancy, treatment of severe asthma or the diagnosis and treatment of work-related asthma.

A review of the in vitro and in vivo valved holding chamber (VHC) literature with a focus on the AeroChamber Plus Flow-Vu Anti-static VHC

Valved holding chambers (VHCs) reduce the need for inhalation-actuation coordination with pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), reduce oropharyngeal drug deposition and may improve lung deposition and clinical outcomes compared to pMDIs used alone. While VHCs are thus widely advocated for use in vulnerable patient groups within clinical and regulatory guidelines, there is less consensus as to whether the performance differences between different VHCs have clinical implications. This review evaluates the VHC literature, in particular the data pertaining to large- versus small-volume chambers, aerosol performance with a VHC adjunct versus a pMDI alone, charge dissipative/conducting versus non-conducting VHCs, and facemasks, to ascertain whether potentially meaningful differences between VHCs exist. Inconsistencies in the literature are examined and explained, and relationships between in vitro and in vivo data are discussed. A particular focus of this review is the AeroChamber Plus® Flow-Vu® Anti-static VHC, the most recent iteration of the AeroChamber VHC family.

Influence of delivery devices on efficacy of inhaled fluticasone propionate: a comparative study in stable asthma patients

BACKGROUND

Inhaled corticosteroids are the preferred treatment for long-term control of all grades of persistent asthma. These are administered by various delivery devices with very little information whether these devices can affect the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids. Fluticasone propionate is a relatively new inhalational corticosteroid compared to older ones like beclomethasone and budesonide. Aims & Objective: To assess the relative efficacy of fluticasone propionate administered from different delivery devices to adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma as measured by pulmonary function test parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective study was undertaken to assess the relative efficacy of fluticasone propionate administered from different delivery devices to adult patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma as measured by pulmonary function test parameters. Fourty eight subjects were administered, fluticasone propionate (250 μg) by dry powder inhaler, metered dose inhaler, metered dose inhaler with spacer and fluticasone (1mg) via nebulizer consecutively each week for four weeks under direct supervision. Pulmonary function test was done before and one hour after administration of the drug on each visit.

RESULTS

After excluding nine patients who were lost to follow up, data was analysed for the remaining thirty nine patients and no significant difference in peak expiratory flow rate (p=0.77), forced expiratory volume in one second (p=0.95), forced vital capacity (p=0.24) and forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity ratio (p=0.22) was seen after giving fluticasone by different devices.

CONCLUSION

Fluticasone propionate delivered by different devices like dry powder inhaler, metered dose inhaler, metered dose inhaler with spacer and nebulizer have similar effect on lung function in patients of chronic stable bronchial asthma and may be used interchangeably.

Targeting the small airways asthma phenotype: if we can reach it, should we treat it?

OBJECTIVE

To review the available methods of evaluating the small airways disease in asthma and the therapeutic strategies to achieve better control using emerging extrafine particle inhaler technologies.

DATA SOURCES

The PubMed, MEDLINE (Ebsco), Scirus, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were all scanned with Cross-search using the following keywords: asthma, small airways, hydrofluoroalkane 134a, extrafine particle, inhaled corticosteroid, long-acting β-agonist, spirometry, impulse oscillometry, nitrogen washout, exhaled nitric oxide, airway hyperresponsiveness, and adrenal suppression.

STUDY SELECTION

Key clinical studies considered to being relevant to the topic under review were evaluated.

RESULTS

There is an unmet need in current asthma guidelines for those individuals who exhibit the small airways asthma phenotype with a preserved forced expiratory volume in 1 second but abnormal forced midexpiratory flow and peripheral airway resistance, which tends to be associated with poorer control. Extrafine hydrofluoroalkane solution formulations of inhaled corticosteroid either alone or in combination with long-acting β-agonist may improve small airways outcomes and associated control.

CONCLUSION

From a pragmatic perspective, it makes sense to try to deliver asthma treatment to more of the lung to improve clinical outcomes, especially in patients who exhibit the small airways asthma phenotype.

A valved holding chamber does not decrease the bronchodilator activity of budesonide-formoterol combination metered dose inhaler

OBJECTIVE

Spacers and valved holding chambers (VHCs) were developed to facilitate using pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) by patients who could not coordinate the actions required for successful pMDI use. There is little in vivo evidence about how VHC may affect the bronchodilation from combination drugs in pMDI. This study was to determine the effect, if any, of VHC on the bronchodilating actions of the pMDI budesonide/formoterol combination.

METHODS

Sixteen adult asthmatic subjects with 15% or greater reversibility of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV-1), 15 minutes after inhaling 180-360 μg of albuterol, participated. The study had a randomized crossover design with each subject using budesonide-formoterol pMDI as described in the product information one timeand on a second occasion using the pMDI with a VHC. Spirometry and impedance osscilometry were measured at baseline and repeatedly over a 12-hour period. This study was approved by IntegReview Institutional Review Board, Austin, TX, USA. The clinical trial number for this study was NCT 009-15538 (http://www.westernskymed.com).

RESULTS

The area under the curve of FEV-1, the FEV-1, and the fraction FEV-1/FVC was similar over the 12-hour time frame with both methods. Resistance was not different at any time point. In both procedures, the onset of bronchodilation occurred rapidly within 3 to 5 minutes.

CONCLUSIONS

In well-trained asthmatic subjects, both tested methods caused equivalent bronchodilation. This suggests a VHC itself has no deleterious effect on the bronchodilator activity in the combined drug. These results may not apply to patients who have coordination problems with the pMDI and further study is indicated.

Antibiotic and bronchodilator prescribing for acute bronchitis in the emergency department

BACKGROUND

Although the overuse of antibiotics and underuse of bronchodilators for treatment of acute bronchitis is well known, few studies have analyzed these trends in the emergency department (ED).

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To characterize the antibiotic and bronchodilator prescribing practices of physicians at two academic EDs in the diagnosis of acute bronchitis, and to identify factors that may or may not be associated with these practices.

METHODS

A computer database was searched retrospectively for all patients with an ED discharge diagnosis of acute bronchitis, and analyzed, looking at the frequency of antibiotic prescriptions, the class of antibiotic prescribed, and several other related factors including age, gender, chief complaint, duration of cough, and comorbid conditions.

RESULTS

During the study period, there were 836 cases of acute bronchitis in adults. Of these, 622 (74.0%) were prescribed antibiotics. Of those prescribed antibiotics, 480 (77.2%) were prescribed broad-spectrum antibiotics. Using multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 95% confidence interval), antibiotics were prescribed significantly more often in patients aged 50 years or older (1.7, 1.2-2.5) and in smokers (1.5, 1.0-2.2). Of patients without asthma, 346 (49.9%) were discharged without a bronchodilator, and 631 (91.1%) were discharged without a spacer device.

CONCLUSION

Antibiotics are over-prescribed in the ED for acute bronchitis, with broad-spectrum antibiotics making up the majority of the antibiotics prescribed. Age ≥50 years and smoking are associated with higher antibiotic prescribing rates.

Effects of intranasal salmeterol and fluticasone given alone and in combination in persistent allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

β(2)-Agonists have previously been shown to be effective inhibitors of mediator release from airway mucosal mast cells.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of intranasal salmeterol and fluticasone propionate alone and in combination on the response to nasal adenosine monophosphate (AMP) challenge to assess mast cell activation.

METHODS

Twenty-three patients with persistent allergic rhinitis completed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 4-way crossover trial. They received once daily treatment with placebo, salmeterol, 50 μg, fluticasone propionate, 500 μg, or fluticasone propionate and salmeterol combination, 500/50 μg, delivered via an antistatic spacer with nasal adapter for 1 week each, with trough measurements being made 12 hours after the first and last dose. The primary outcome was the maximum percentage decrease in peak nasal inspiratory flow after nasal AMP challenge.

RESULTS

For the primary outcome there was significant protection after single and long-term dosing with fluticasone alone and fluticasone-salmeterol combination, whereas salmeterol alone only afforded protection after the first dose. Fluticasone-salmeterol combination and fluticasone but not salmeterol conferred significant chronic dosing effects on secondary outcomes of nasal symptoms and disease-specific quality of life. There was no potentiation of the response to fluticasone by salmeterol on any outcomes when given in combination.

CONCLUSION

Chronic dosing with fluticasone but not salmeterol confers anti-inflammatory activity against nasal AMP challenge, but there was no potentiation of fluticasone when given in combination with salmeterol. Thus, salmeterol may not be an effective treatment for use in allergic rhinitis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01388595.

Aerosol drug delivery: developments in device design and clinical use

Aerosolised drugs are prescribed for use in a range of inhaler devices and systems. Delivering drugs by inhalation requires a formulation that can be successfully aerosolised and a delivery system that produces a useful aerosol of the drug; the particles or droplets need to be of sufficient size and mass to be carried to the distal lung or deposited on proximal airways to give rise to a therapeutic effect. Patients and caregivers must use and maintain these aerosol drug delivery devices correctly. In recent years, several technical innovations have led to aerosol drug delivery devices with efficient drug delivery and with novel features that take into account factors such as dose tracking, portability, materials of manufacture, breath actuation, the interface with the patient, combination therapies, and systemic delivery. These changes have improved performance in all four categories of devices: metered dose inhalers, spacers and holding chambers, dry powder inhalers, and nebulisers. Additionally, several therapies usually given by injection are now prescribed as aerosols for use in a range of drug delivery devices. In this Review, we discuss recent developments in the design and clinical use of aerosol devices over the past 10-15 years with an emphasis on the treatment of respiratory disorders.