Abstract
Long-acting β2-adrenergic receptor agonists (LABA), a class of agents for the long-term management of childhood bronchial asthma, are recommended for use in combination with steroid inhalation for the treatment of the morning dip in severe childhood asthma. In the present review, salmeterol (SM), a LABA inhalant with a long-acting bronchodilator effect, was compared with the recently introduced tulobuterol patch (TBP) in terms of safety and efficacy, based on their respective clinical effects on childhood asthma. From a clinical perspective, both drugs had a preventive effect by suppressing the morning dip and exercise-induced asthma when used concomitantly with an inhaled corticosteroid, and both agents were associated with a lower incidence of adverse effects on the cardiovascular system than oral β2-adrenergic receptor agonists. Based on these findings, both SM and TBP are concluded to be highly efficacious and safe bronchodilator agents that are appropriate for the long-term management of childhood asthma.
