Conditions: COPD
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 18
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a major worldwide problem.Steroids inhalers are now an established treatment for COPD. Inhaled steroids can have a number of bad effects including suppression of the adrenal glands because of absorption. A previous study in patients with COPD.

C-reactive Protein (CRP) is a peptide produced in the liver in response to inflammation. Elevated circulating levels of CRP are associated with heart conditions. High levels of CRP have also been found in patients with COPD. In some studies, steroid inhalers have reduced CRP levels, and that of other inflammatory mediators, in patients with COPD. It is unknown whether this reflects a reduction in lung inflammation or an effect of systemically absorbed corticosteroid.

It is proposed to investigate the link between inhaled corticosteroid and serum CRP, lung inflammation (measured by exhaled nitric oxide) and systemic absorption of steroids.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: FP 250μg per actuation pMDI one puff twice daily (total daily dose 500μg) for two weeks then FP 250μg per actuation pMDI four puffs twice daily (total daily dose 2000μg) for two weeks. After a washout period of 2 weeks, they then received FP matched placebo pMDI one puff twice daily for two weeks then FP four puffs twice daily for two weeks. arm 2: FP matched placebo pMDI one puff twice daily for two weeks then FP four puffs twice daily for two weeks. After a washout period of 2 weeks, they then received FP 250μg per actuation pMDI one puff twice daily (total daily dose 500μg) for two weeks then FP 250μg per actuation pMDI four puffs twice daily (total daily dose 2000μg) for two weeks.

Interventions: intervention 1: Fluticasone propionate intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: None intervention 2: None

Protocol document: