The superiority of combination beclomethasone and salbutamol over standard dosing of salbutamol in the treatment of chronic asthma.

We studied the clinical effect of a combination aerosol containing salbutamol and beclomethasone dipropionate in comparison to doubling the standard dose of salbutamol from an inhaler. Fifty-seven patients completed the double-blind, crossover study. They were treated with either an aerosol of 100 micrograms beclomethasone dipropionate and 200 micrograms salbutamol or 400 micrograms salbutamol alone.

Methacholine bronchial challenge using a dosimeter with controlled tidal breathing.

A new inhalation synchronised dosimeter triggered by low inspiratory flow rates has been assessed. The methacholine challenge test using dosimeter nebulisation with controlled tidal breathing was compared with continuous nebulisation using De Vilbiss No 40 nebulisers with deep inhalations in 11 asthmatic subjects. Within subject PD20 FEV1 values were lower with the dosimeter method than with the continuous nebulisation method (geometric means 158 and 588 micrograms).

Aerosol deposition in automatic dosimeter nebulization.

A new dosimeter nebulization method was studied in 10 asthmatics and 8 normal volunteers by delivering fixed doses of 99mTc-traced radioaerosol in 0.2 s periods of tidal breathing. Two separate inspiratory phases were studied with the onset of nebulization, when in the earlier phase 15% and in the later phase 60% of tidal volume was inhaled.