P195 Plume characteristics of fluticasone propionate/formoterol pMDI compared with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol pMDI: Abstract P195 Table 1.

Abstract

Background Methotrexate (MTX) immunosuppressive therapy is selectively used to assist with the reduction of the oral corticosteroid demand thereby decreasing the risk of potential side effects in individuals with steroid dependant asthma. Previous reported data has demonstrated similar significant reduction in corticosteroid load, asthma exacerbation and hospital admission rate. This study aims to compare similar variables collated from UK severe asthma specialist centres to further generate evidence for the continued use of MTX as an effective aid in the reduction of corticosteroid burden in a severe asthma cohort. Methods A retrospective data collection was performed across two UK severe asthma centres with data from a third pending. Patients included had a confirmed diagnosis of severe asthma and had been treated with MTX for at least 12 months to allow sufficient analysis. Variables assessed included mean average daily corticosteroid dose, overall percentage reduction of corticosteroid, exacerbation frequency and acute admission events both twelve months prior to and post commencement of MTX therapy. Data collection was examined for each individual centre then combined and examined for consistency of results. Conclusion When monitored and supervised in the correctly chosen severe asthma patient, MTX can significantly reduce the demand for corticosteroids and consequently reduce steroid related side effects, admission and exacerbation this has been demonstrated across two specialist centres with correlating data.

Efficacy of fluticasone propionate/formoterol fumarate in the treatment of asthma: A pooled analysis

“…A rapid onset of action may be an important attribute of an ICS/LABA maintenance therapy for patients [4,8]; recent studies have suggested that therapies with a rapid onset of bronchodilation may encourage patient adherence to their treatment regimen [9,10]. Furthermore, fluticasone/formoterol has been shown in vitro to have a high fine particle fraction (FPF), to exhibit negligible flow-rate dependency [11], and has also demonstrated a slow, warm and prolonged aerosol plume [ [12]; unpublished data] factors which may correlate with corresponding high levels of lung deposition in vivo.…”

Fluticasone propionate/formoterol: A fixed-combination therapy with flexible dosage

“…It has been demonstrated that the percentage of respirable fraction contained in the aerosol (defined as drug particles with the diameter range between 2 and 5 μm) correlates with the drug deposition in lung tissues [57,58]. The inhaler used for the administration of the fluticasone propionate/ formoterol combination ensures the distribution of an aerosol with a respirable fraction of 40% of the inhaled dose [59], which is consistent at different inspiratory flows, with a plume value of 168 ms [60]. These characteristics facilitate drug deposition throughout the airways.…”