[A fixed combination of fluticasone and salmeterol permits better control of asthma than a beclomethasone dipropionate and montelukast combination].

It is now recommended to add an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist, or as an alternative, to add a leukotriene-antagonist, in patients whose asthma is insufficiently controlled with an inhaled corticosteroid alone. A randomised, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group study was carried out in 246 patients of at least 15 years, whose asthma was not adequately controlled with a medium dose of an inhaled corticosteroid. They received either fluticasone/salmeterol combination 250/50 micrograms one inhalation twice daily or CFC beclomethasone dipropionate 250 micrograms two puffs twice daily plus montelukast 10 mg in the evening for 12 weeks. The mean morning PEFR (main criterion) was significantly (p = 0.017) more improved with fluticasone/salmeterol (+44.2 L/min) than with beclomethasone dipropionate plus montelukast (+31.0 L/min). Other outcomes showed significantly better improvements (p 0.022 Pound) with fluticasone/salmeterol than with beclomethasone plus montelukast. The two treatments were well tolerated. Fluticasone/salmeterol provided a better asthma control than beclomethasone dipropionate plus montelukast in patients insufficiently controlled with an inhaled corticosteroid alone.