This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Tiotropium improves lung function with ICS therapy

Patients taking tiotropium in addition to inhaled corticosteroid background therapy showed improved lung function, with a greater improvement among those patients receiving a larger dose, according to recent research.

“In conclusion, in adolescent patients with moderate symptomatic asthma, once-daily tiotropium [Spiriva, Boehringer Ingelheim] added to at least inhaled corticosteroid maintenance treatment significantly improves lung function and demonstrates a trend for improved asthma control and quality of life, with the largest responses observed with the 5-mg dose,” Eckard Hamelmann, MD, from the Klinik für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin at the Kinderzentrum Bethel, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bielefeld in Bielefeld, Germany, and colleagues wrote in their study. “Tiotropium also demonstrated safety and tolerability comparable with those of placebo. These data are consistent with findings in adults and support the addition of tiotropium Respimat in the treatment of adolescent patients with moderate symptomatic asthma.”

Hamelmann and colleagues evaluated 398 patients between 12 years and 17 years old who, in addition to inhaled corticosteroid background therapy, received 5 μg (2 puffs; 2.5 μg), 2.5 μg (2 puffs; 1.25 μg) of tiotropium or 2 puffs of placebo from Respimat device, according to the abstract. The intervention was performed both with and without a leukotriene receptor antagonist, and researchers noted long-acting beta-agonist therapy was not permitted during the study period.

They found improvements within 3 hours after administration in peak forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) in both the 5 μg (174 mL; 95% CI, 76 mL - 272 mL) and 2.5 μg (134 mL; 95% CI, 34 mL - 234 mL) tiotropium groups, according to the abstract. In the 5 μg group, Hamelman and colleagues reported significant improvement in mean trough FEV₁ at 24 weeks, as well as overall improvements in asthma control and health-related quality of life throughout the study period. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: Hamelmann reports funding from Boehringer Ingelheim. The other researchers report various financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a complete list of disclosures.