International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Meta AnalysisSafety of indacaterol in the treatment of patients with COPD.
Pooled data were analyzed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of indacaterol, a once-daily inhaled long-acting β(2)-agonist for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ⋯ Indacaterol has a good profile of safety and tolerability that is appropriate for the maintenance treatment of patients with COPD.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative StudyA novel study design for antibiotic trials in acute exacerbations of COPD: MAESTRAL methodology.
Antibiotics, along with oral corticosteroids, are standard treatments for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The ultimate aims of treatment are to minimize the impact of the current exacerbation, and by ensuring complete resolution, reduce the risk of relapse. In the absence of superiority studies of antibiotics in AECOPD, evidence of the relative efficacy of different drugs is lacking, and so it is difficult for physicians to select the most effective antibiotic. ⋯ Patients enrolled are those at high-risk of treatment failure, and all are experiencing an Anthonisen type I exacerbation. Patients are stratified according to oral corticosteroid use to control their effect across antibiotic treatment arms. Secondary endpoints include quality of life, symptom assessments and health care resource use.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialA pilot study of the impact of high-frequency chest wall oscillation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with mucus hypersecretion.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with mucus hypersecretion tend to demonstrate increased frequency of infective exacerbations and a steeper slope of decline in lung function. Enhanced mucociliary clearance with high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) devices previously used in cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis patients may offer the opportunity for community-based, self-managed therapy to improve quality of life and lung function. ⋯ This pilot study demonstrated that patients with advanced COPD and mucus hypersecretion at increased risk of declining lung function tolerated the HFCWO treatment well, leading to improvement in quality of life and reduced symptoms.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Multicenter StudyValue of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, and neopterin in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The identification of biological markers in order to assess different aspects of COPD is an area of growing interest. The objective of this study was to investigate whether levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neopterin in COPD patients could be useful in identifying the etiological origin of the exacerbation and assessing its prognosis. ⋯ According to our results, biomarker levels vary depending on the clinical status. However, the identification of the etiology of infectious exacerbation by means of circulating biomarkers is encouraging, but its main disadvantage is the absence of a microbiological gold standard, to definitively demonstrate their value. High biomarker levels during an exacerbation episode correlate with the short-term prognosis, and therefore their measurement can be useful for COPD management.
-
Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis · Jan 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter StudyEffects of beclomethasone/formoterol fixed combination on lung hyperinflation and dyspnea in COPD patients.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common disease characterized by airflow obstruction and lung hyperinflation leading to dyspnea and exercise capacity limitation. ⋯ BDP/F extra-fine combination is effective in reducing air trapping and dyspnea in COPD patients with lung hyperinflation.