Article date: January 2005
By: Brian J. Lipworth, Erika J. Sims, Karla Taylor, Wendy Cockburn, Robert Fishman, in Volume 59, Issue 1, pages 5-13
Aims
The Aerodose® inhaler is a novel, palm‐sized, breath actuated device which requires little patient coordination. This study compared the dose–response of salbutamol delivered by the Aerodose® Inhaler (Aerogen Inc., Mountain View, USA) vs Pari LC Plus jet nebulizer (Pari LC Plus; Pari GmbH, Starnberg, Germany) and Ventolin™ Evohaler™ HFA pMDI (Evohaler; Allen & Hanburys [GlaxoSmithkline], Uxbridge, UK).
Methods
Twenty‐two moderate to severe asthmatic patients, mean (s.d.) age: 44.7 (9.4), FEV1: 58.1 (12.0), received 4 cumulative doubling doses of salbutamol in a randomised, investigator blind, balanced crossover design. Spirometry and systemic safety variables (heart rate, blood pressure, T wave amplitude, QTc interval and potassium) were measured at baseline and after each dose.
Results
Parallel regression analysis revealed that microgram relative potency ratios for the Aerodose® Inhaler to be five times more efficient for FEV1 than either the Pari LC Plus (0.202, 90% CI: 0.189–0.216) or the Evohaler (0.202, 90% CI: 0.189–0.216), while there was no difference between Pari LC Plus vs Evohaler. Similarly, Aerodose® Inhaler vs. Pari LC Plus showed approximately five‐fold greater potency for all systemic parameters, except blood pressure. As compared to the Evohaler, Aerodose® Inhaler had equivalent potency for plasma potassium and T wave amplitude, but demonstrated greater potency for heart rate and QTc interval.
Conclusions
This study has indicated therefore, that Aerodose® Inhaler is approximately five times as efficient as the Pari LC Plus and Evohaler in relative lung delivery of salbutamol in moderate to severe asthmatics.
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.2005.02168.x
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