ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to compare the effects of 6 months therapy with salmeterol or ipratropium bromide on lung function (resting and dynamic parameters), exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In open, randomised study patients at visit 1 were included into trial, at visit 2 and, after 6 months therapy, at visit 3 lung function measured by a pressure body plethysmography, exercise tolerance was investigated by 6 minute walking test and dyspnoea was analysed by the means of Borg scale. We studied 24 patients (18 males, 6 females, range age 45-76 yrs, mean: 60.2+/-10.46) with stable COPD. 13 subjects (mean FEV1 = 63.61% predicted, SD = 15.66%) received salmeterol (2 x 50 microg/day) and 11 subjects (mean FEV1 = 62.52% predicted, SD = 12.39%) received ipratropium bromide (4 x 40 microg/day). There were no significant changes in lung function parameters (FEV1, VC, Rtot, TLC, RV and RV%TLC) after 6 months therapy with both drugs, but the treatment with salmeterol significantly improves exercise tolerance in 6 minute walking test (p=0.048) and Borg dyspnea ratings (p=0.008).
Subject(s)
Albuterol/analogs & derivatives , Albuterol/therapeutic use , Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use , Exercise Tolerance , Ipratropium/therapeutic use , Lung/physiopathology , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/physiopathology , Aged , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/diagnosis , Respiratory Function Tests , Salmeterol Xinafoate , Severity of Illness Index , Time FactorsABSTRACT
According to the different theories considering the role of CD30 antigen in the differentiation of T lymphocytes, the aim of this study was to analyze the immunophenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in patients with mild atopic asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis in out of season period. The immunophenotype of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (CD4, CD38, CD8, CD23, CD25, CD57, CD30, HLA-DR) was analyzed by flow-cytometry. A statistically significant rise in the percentage of CD30+ PBMCs in asthma group (3.50 +/- 2.07%) was seen when compared with allergic rhinitis group (1.80 +/- 0.90%). In allergic rhinitis patients a significant rise in the percentage of CD8+ lymphocytes (13.21 +/- 5.87%) was observed in comparison to asthma group (8.36 +/- 5.88%). No statistically significant differences in the expression of the other estimated molecules were detected. The enhancement of CD30 molecule expression on PBMCs in symptomatic asthma is supposed to confirm, due to Romagnani's theory, the predominance of Th2-type response in the pathogenesis of immunoinflammation active phase. PBMCs from patients with allergic rhinitis in out-of-season period may switch into cytotoxic/suppressive cells, confirmed by rise in the percentage of CD8+.