Efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate/salmeterol administered twice daily via hydrofluoroalkane 134a metered-dose inhaler in adolescent and adult patients with persistent asthma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 12-week study.

Objective: This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of the combination of fluticasone propionate (FP) and salmeterol (SAL) delivered via a single hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) 134a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with those of its 2 components alone delivered via a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) MDI and placebo (PLA) delivered via HFA MDI in adolescent and adult patients with persistent asthma that was not controlled by medium doses (equivalent to FP 440-660 microg/d) of inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs).

Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind,placebo-controlled, parallel-group study consisting of a 2-week, single-blind, placebo run-in period followed by a 12-week, double-blind treatment period. Participants had to be > or =12 years of age and have a diagnosis of asthma requiring pharmacotherapy for at least 6 months before the study.

Efficacy and safety of desloratadine/pseudoephedrine tablet, 2.5/120 mg two times a day, versus individual components in the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Although antihistamines are highly effective in alleviating many symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), relief from nasal congestion is variable. The efficacy of desloratadine, an effective antihistamine, in combination with pseudoephedrine, a potent nasal decongestant, was evaluated to determine whether combination therapy was more effective than individual component therapy in reducing nasal congestion, as well as other SAR symptoms. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm study included 650 patients with SAR.

Validation of a pediatric asthma caregiver diary.

Background: Young children are generally not able to consistently and reliably perform tests of airway function, and normative values are not available. Reliable and valid measures of parental reporting of asthma symptoms and functioning are needed to determine the efficacy of asthma interventions.

Objective: A pediatric asthma caregiver diary was developed and validated for use in interventional asthma studies.

Inhaled mometasone furoate reduces oral prednisone requirements while improving respiratory function and health-related quality of life in patients with severe persistent asthma.

Background: Inhaled corticosteroid therapy in severe persistent asthma has been shown to reduce or eliminate oral corticosteroid (OCS) use while retaining effective asthma control.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the ability of mometasone furoate (MF) delivered by means of dry powder inhaler to reduce daily oral prednisone requirements in OCS-dependent patients with severe persistent asthma.

Methods: We performed a 12-week, double-blind, placebocontrolled trial (21 centers, 132 patients) comparing 2 doses of MF (400 and 800 microg administered twice daily) with placebo, followed by a 9-month open-label phase in which 128 patients received treatment with MF.

Comparison of once- and twice-daily dosing of fluticasone propionate 200 micrograms per day administered by diskus device in patients with asthma treated with or without inhaled corticosteroids.

Background: There are limited published data regarding the efficacy of once- versus twice-daily administration of flutica-sone propionate.

Objective: Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of fluticasone propionate powder 200 microg/d administered as a once- or twice-daily dosage regimen in patients who were currently being treated with bronchodilators only (BD patients) and in patients who required inhaled corticosteroids for maintenance treatment of asthma (ICS patients).

Methods: Five hundred seventy patients were randomly assigned to receive one of the following inhaled treatments through the Diskus device (Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC) for 12 weeks: fluticasone propionate 100 microg twice daily (FP100BID) or 200 microg once daily (FP200QD) or placebo.