Background: Few studies have examined the efficacy or safety of a transdermal β(2) agonist as add-on medication to long-term leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) therapy in pediatric asthma patients.
Methods: In this randomized, open-label, multicenter clinical trial, children aged 4-12 years on long-term LTRA therapy were treated with tulobuterol patches (1-2mg daily) or oral sustained-release theophylline (usual dose, 4-5mg/kg daily) for 4 weeks. LTRAs were continued throughout the trial. Outcomes included volume of peak expiratory flow (% PEF), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), clinical symptoms and adverse events.
Results: Thirty-three and 31 patients were treated with tulobuterol patches and theophylline, respectively. % PEF measured in the morning and before bedtime was significantly higher at all times in the treatment period compared with baseline in the tulobuterol patch group (p < 0.001), and was significantly higher in the tulobuterol patch group compared with the theophylline group. FeNO was similar and unchanged from baseline in both groups. There were no drug-related adverse events in either group.
Conclusions: These results suggest that short-term use of a transdermal β(2) agonist is an effective therapy for pediatric asthma without inducing airway inflammation in children on long-term LTRA therapy.