Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Advair - CRP Study
Brief Summary: Large population-based studies suggest that patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are 2 to 3 times at risk for cardiovascular mortality, which accounts for a large proportion of the total number of deaths. How COPD increases the risk of poor cardiovascular outcomes is largely unknown. However, there is growing evidence that persistent low-grade systemic inflammation is present in COPD and that this may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease among COPD patients. Inflammation and more specifically, C-reactive protein (CRP), has been linked with all stages of atherosclerosis, including plaque genesis, rupture and subsequent thrombo-fibrosis of vulnerable vessels. Recently, our group has demonstrated in a relatively small study that short-term inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy can repress serum CRP levels in stable COPD patients. Conversely, withdrawal of ICS leads to a marked increase in serum CRP levels. Although very promising, these data cannot be considered definitive because the study was small in size and scope (N=41 patients). Additionally, this study did not address the potential effects of combination therapy with ICS and long-acting β2 agonists (LABA). This is an important short-coming because combination therapy of ICS and LABA have been shown to produce improved clinical outcomes over ICS monotherapy and is commonly used by clinicians in the treatment of moderate to severe COPD. We hypothesize that inhaled fluticasone (Flovent®) reduces systemic inflammation and that combination therapy (Advair®) is more effective than steroids alone in reducing systemic inflammation in COPD. In this proposal, we will implement a randomized controlled trial to determine whether ICS by themselves or in combination with LABAs can:

1. reduce CRP levels in stable COPD patients and
2. reduce other pro-inflammatory cytokines, which have been linked with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* A clinical diagnosis of COPD with symptoms for more than 2 years
* Smoking history of 10 or more pack years
* A history of at least one COPD exacerbation requiring a course of oral steroids and/or antibiotics within 1-12 months before first visit.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A history of asthma
* Patients taking oral steroids.
* Any significant disease or disorder that may jeopardize the safety of the patient
B: Inclusion criteria:

* Patients with COPD and FEV1 \<60% of predicted normal and baseline (pre-bronchodilator) FEV1/FVC ratio \<70%.
* Current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of at least 10 pack-years.

Exclusion criteria:

* Diagnosis of other respiratory disorders (including asthma).
* Requirement for long term oxygen therapy.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* All patients must have a clinical diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines.
* Patients must have a cigarette smoking history of more than 10 pack-years
* Patients must be clinically stable and at least 4 weeks from last acute exacerbation (and return to baseline level of symptoms)
* Patients must have an FEV1 of less than 80% of predicted values with FEV1 to FVC ratio of less than 0.70 (post-bronchodilator values)
* Men or women ≥ 45 years of age
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Moderate to severe COPD based on prebronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of \<=70%.
* At Screening \& Baseline, postbronchodilator FEV1 must be \>= 60% predicted normal \& \>=25% predicted normal.
* COPD symptoms for \>=24 months.
* \>=2 COPD exacerbations requiring course of oral corticosteroid \&/or antibiotics within 2-12 months before screening.
* Ex- or current smoker with smoking history \>=10 pack years.
* Only albuterol/salbutamol for relief for at least 2 weeks prior to randomization.
* Withdraw from parenteral \& oral steroids, anticholinergics, \& antibiotics 4 weeks prior to Screening.
* No harm in changing current COPD therapy, willing to discontinue his/her anticholinergics, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) or ICS/long-acting beta agonists (LABA) at Screening, \& transferred to albuterol/salbutamol for relief for 2 weeks prior to Randomization.
* Lab tests conducted at Screening must be acceptable to investigator. Electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at Screening or within 30 days prior to Screening must be acceptable to investigator. Chest X-ray or computerized tomography (CT) scan is acceptable within 12 months prior to Screening must be acceptable to investigator.
* Female of childbearing potential must use birth control. Includes: hormonal contraceptives, intra-uterine device (IUD), condom in combination with spermicide, monogamous relationship with male partner who had vasectomy. Started birth control at least 3 months prior to Screening (exception condom), \& must agree to continue. Female who is not currently sexually active must agree/consent to using a method should she become sexually active. Women who have been surgically sterilized or are at least 1 year postmenopausal are not considered to be of childbearing potential. Female must have negative serum pregnancy test at Screening.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Evidence (upon visual inspection) of oropharyngeal candidiasis at Baseline with or without treatment. If there is evidence at Screening, may be treated as appropriate \& visit can be scheduled upon resolution. If there is evidence at Baseline, may be treated as appropriate \& visit can be rescheduled upon resolution.
* History of renal, hepatic, cardiovascular, metabolic, neurologic, hematologic, ophthalmological, respiratory, gastrointestinal, cerebrovascular, or other which could interfere with study or require treatment which might interfere with study. Examples include (but are not limited to) hypertension treated with beta-blockers), active hepatitis, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, significant QTc prolongation (ie QTcF or QTcB \[Fridericia or Bazett corrections, respectively \>500 milliseconds (msecs)\]) stroke, severe rheumatoid arthritis, chronic open-angle glaucoma or posterior subcapsular cataracts, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), or conditions that may interfere with respiratory function such as asthma, bronchiectasis, cystic fibrosis. Others which are well-controlled \& stable (eg hypertension not requiring beta-blockers) will not prohibit participation if appropriate to investigator.
* Allergy/sensitivity to glucocorticosteroids, beta-2 agonists, study drug/excipients.
* Female who is breast-feeding, pregnant, or intends to become pregnant.
* Illicit drug user.
* Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive (testing not conducted).
* Unable to correctly use oral MDI.
* Taking any restricted medications prior to Screening without meeting washout.
* Cannot adhere to permitted concomitant \& prohibited medications.
* May not participate in this same study at another investigational site. Cannot participate in different investigational study at any site, during same time.
* Not be randomized into study more than once.
* No person directly associated with administration of study may participate.
* Previously participated in MF/F trial.
* Increase in absolute volume of \>=400 milliliters (mL) at Screening or prior to Baseline within 30 minutes after administration of 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol (total dose of 360 to 400 mcg), or nebulized 2.5 mg albuterol/salbutamol.
* Asthma.
* Lobectomy, pneumonectomy or lung volume reduction surgery.
* Lung cancer.
* Requires long-term administration of oxygen (\>15 hours/day).
* Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.
* A history and/or presence of intraocular pressure in either eye \>=22 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), glaucoma, and/or posterior subcapsular cataracts. A subject who has undergone incisional or intraocular surgery in which the natural lens is still present in the eye. A subject with a history of penetrating trauma to both eyes. A subject with one or more of the following Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III grades at screening:

  * nuclear opalescence (NO): \>=3.0,
  * nuclear color (NC): \>=3.0,
  * cortical cataract (C): \>=2.0,
  * posterior subcapsular (P): \>=0.5.

Answer: C