Abstract:
Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Patients usually suffer from breathlessness, productive cough causing poor quality of life. The efficacy of combination of long-acting beta2 agonist and inhaled corticosteroid in bronchiectasis is lack of evidence.Method: Thirty-four symptomatic bronchiectasis patients diagnosed by high-resolution CT scan of the thorax were enrolled into the study. Patients who smoked more than 10 pack-years or had bronchodilator response from spirometry were excluded. Patients were randomized to receive salmeterol/fluticasone (S/F) inhaler 50/250 mcg or placebo inhaler twice daily. Demographic data, pulmonary function, Saint Georges respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ) and 6-minute walk test results were collected at baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks after treatment.Results: After 24 week, there was no significant change of pulmonary function from baseline in both groups. The mean changes of pre-bronchodilator FEV1, post-bronchodilator FEV1, pre-bronchodilator FVC and post-bronchodilator FVC (SD) in S/F group were +63 (0.237), +5 (0.221), +107 (0.348) and +24 (0.353) ml, respectively compared with those in placebo of -45 (0.101), -56 (0.144), -50 (0.202) and -71 (0.199) ml, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in pulmonary function between two groups No statistical improvement in SGRQ total score between two groups (mean change of SGRQ total score -10.55 and -4.46 respectively (p = 0.462)). There was no difference in 6MWT from baseline in both groups (mean change of S/F and placebo group = 18.0, -5.6 m: p=0.178).Conclusion: Salmeterol/fluticasone treatment does not improve lung function, quality of life and exercise capacity in bronchiectasis patients