Study design (if review, criteria of inclusion for studies)
Placebo-controlled cross-over trial over 2 months
Participants
SK scores 62 - 90 14/16 responders, 8/11 non-responders completed trial 27 participants (13 males), data from 22 participants only, age range 6 - 25 years
Interventions
Randomised to either albuterol 90 microgram qds compared to placebo by MDI for 4 weeks Subdivided into responders or non-responders by methacholine challenge.
Outcome measures
Daily PEFR measurements Symptom diaries Changes in spirometry (FEV1, FVC, PEFR, FEF25-75 ) measured at baseline, 2 and 4 weeks
Main results
Among the responders, daily PEFR measures improved significantly more during treatment with albuterol (12 +/- 32 L/min) than with placebo (-0.4 +/- 19 L/min; p less than 0.05). In addition, a clinically important level of improvement in PEFR (15 percent increase) was reached significantly more frequently in the responders. Methacholine nonresponders had no change in PEFR on either albuterol or placebo. Daily symptom scores as well as spirometry measurements at biweekly visits did not show significant changes.
Authors' conclusions
long-term therapy with inhaled albuterol improves lung function in CF patients, but only in those with bronchial hyperresponsiveness as demonstrated by methacholine challenge.
Keywords: Adolescent; Albuterol; Bronchodilator Agents; Inhalation OR nebulised; Methacholine; pharmacological_intervention; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Respiratory System Agents;