Effects of Particle Size in Small Airways Dysfunction
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The airways in the lungs get smaller the further into the lungs they go. Most simple
measurements of lung function only reflect the larger 'central' airways and do not provide
information on the smaller 'peripheral' airways. Newer measurements have been developed that
can now give us accurate information on how the smaller airways are working. Indeed the small
airways seem to play a significant role in asthma in terms of inflammation and airway
narrowing. Recently, new types of inhaler formulations have been developed that have a much
smaller particle size than other standard formulations. These formulations have been shown to
go further into the lungs, thus getting into the smaller airways. In this study we aim to
compare the two extremes of available long acting beta agonists in terms of particle size
i.e. extra fine formoterol (Atimos) versus coarse particle salmeterol (Serevent)in asthmatics
with abnormal small airway function using a breathing test called impulse oscillometry. By
using this test we will be able to find out whether using an extrafine particle inhaler
improves small airway function.