The effect of inhaled salmeterol, alone and in combination with fluticasone propionate, on management of COPD patients.

Introduction:   Airway inflammation is a known pathological feature of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We examined the effect of inhaled salmeterol, alone and in combination with fluticasone propionate, on the management of patients with COPD.

Methods:   Forty male COPD patients were randomly divided into two groups; group 1 (n=20) were treated with long-acting ß2-agonist, and group 2 (n=20) with long-acting ß2-agonist and inhaled glucocoticoid each day for 3 months.