Combination Therapy Salmeterol/Fluticasone Versus Doubling Dose of Fluticasone in Children With Asthma

Rationale For children with symptomatic asthma despite low to moderate doses of inhaled corticosteroids, evidence is still lacking whether to add a long acting bronchodilator or to increase the dose of inhaled corticosteroids Objective To evaluate whether salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SFP), 50/100 mu g twice a day, is noninferior regarding symptom control compared with fluticasone propionate (FP) 200 mu g twice a day Diskus in children with symptomatic asthma Methods A multicenter, randomized, parallel group, double blind study was performed comparing SFP and FP treatment during 26 weeks on asthma control and lung function Measurements and Main Results A total of 158 children, 6-16 years old still symptomatic on FP, 100 mu g twice a day, during a 4-week run in period were included Percentage of symptom free days during the last 10 weeks of the treatment period did not differ between treatment groups (per protocol analysis adjusted mean difference [FP minus SFP] 2 6%, 95% confidence interval, -8 1 to 13 4) Both groups showed substantial improvements of about 25 percent points in symptom free days (both P < 0 001 from baseline) Lung function measurements (FEV1, FVC, PEF rate, and maximal expiratory flow) did not differ between groups except for a slight advantage in maximal expiratory flow in the SFP group at 1 week No differences were found between I P and SFP regarding exacerbation rates adverse events, or growth Conclusions In our study the efficacy on symptom control and lung function of the combination of a long acting bronchodilator with inhaled corticosteroid is equal to doubling the dose of the inhaled corticosteroid in children still symptomatic on a moderate dose of inhaled corticosteroid Clinical trial registered with www clinicaltrials gov (NCT 00197106)