[Prolonged effect against exercise-induced bronchospasm: salmeterol versus sodium cromoglycate].

Nineteen subjects with isolated exercise-induced asthma (FEV1, FEF25-75%, PEFR, FVC greater than 95% predicted values, fall in FEV1 of at least 15% after exercise, typical recent symptoms of exercise-induced asthma, no other treatment) were entered in a multicenter trial carried out in a double blind, double placebo, cross-over manner. After a one-month baseline period, subjects underwent an exercise after inhaling 100 micrograms of salmeterol (n = 12) or 40 mg of sodium cromoglycate (n = 7). Treatments were alternated before the second exercise which took place at least 2 days after the first. Efficacy was assessed by examining changes in FEV1, FEF25-75% after exercise carried out 30 minutes and 7 hours after administering the treatment by comparison with baseline values (assessments done 1, 10 and 30 minutes after exercise, lowest of three values kept for the analysis of each parameter). FEV1 and FEF25-75% were significantly higher 30 minutes after taking salmeterol. Salmeterol was found to be superior to sodium cromoglycate for all parameters 7 hours after administering the drug. Both treatments were well tolerated. This study confirms that the longer duration of effect of salmeterol and its superiority by comparison with the standard treatments of exercise-induced asthma.