Comparison of the effects of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate with fluticasone propionate on airway physiology in adults with mild persistent asthma.

Background: This study compared the effect of inhaled fluticasone propionate (FP) with the combination of salmeterol/fluticasone propionate (SFC) on lung function parameters in patients with mild asthma.

Methods: Adult patients with mild persistent asthma (> or = 80% predicted FEV1) receiving 200-500 mug of BDP or equivalent were randomised to receive either FP 100 mug or SFC 50/100 mug twice daily from a Diskus inhaler for four weeks. The primary outcome was the change from baseline in airway resistance (sRaw) at 12 hrs post dose measured by whole body plethysmography.