Efficacy and safety of fluticasone furoate/vilanterol or tiotropium in subjects with COPD at cardiovascular risk.

Background: Fluticasone furoate/vilanterol (FF/VI) is a novel, once-daily, inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β2-agonist combination approved for the treatment of COPD and asthma. We compared the safety and efficacy of FF/VI and tiotropium (TIO) in subjects with moderate-to-severe COPD with greater risk for comorbid cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods: This randomized, blinded, double-dummy, parallel-group study compared a once-daily morning dose of FF/VI 100/25 mcg delivered via ELLIPTA™ with TIO 18 mcg via HandiHaler(®) for 12 weeks in subjects with diagnosed COPD, forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 30%-70% predicted, and CVD or CVD risk.

Absence of electrocardiographic findings and improved function with once-daily tiotropium in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Study Objectives: To examine electrocardiographic findings after short- and long-term tiotropium therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to establish previously reported symptomatic efficacy.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study.

Setting: Twelve outpatient investigational centers in the United States.

Improved daytime spirometric efficacy of tiotropium compared with salmeterol in patients with COPD.

Background: The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) recommends long-acting bronchodilators as first-line maintenance treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A study was conducted comparing the long-acting anticholinergic tiotropium with the long-acting beta-agonist salmeterol to confirm the significant improvements in daytime bronchodilator efficacy seen with tiotropium in previous studies.

Methods: Randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study, comparing daytime bronchodilator efficacy of tiotropium 18 mcg once daily with salmeterol 50 mcg twice daily in patients with COPD.

The acute and insidious onset of pulmonary metastatic transitional cell carcinoma.

Transitional cell carcinoma is a common urologic neoplasm. Although pulmonary metastases from this tumor are often not appreciated clinically, they are frequently documented in autopsy studies. Therefore, the clinical recognition of this condition can be problematic.