Study to Assess the Effect of the NEXThaler® Device (DPI - Dry Powder Inhaler) on the Central and Peripheral Airway Dimensions in Asthmatic Patients

University Hospital, Antwerp31 enrolled

Overview

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of the combination of formoterol and beclometasone dipropionate in a dry powder inhaler (NEXThaler®) on central and peripheral airway dimensions in asthmatic patients. Therefore Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) will be used. Further more, the effect of this combination therapy on lung function (spirometry, resistance and diffusion), the Asthma Control Test (ACT™) and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) will be assessed and the safety will be evaluated.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Asthma

Interventions

Beclomethasone dipropionate 100 µg + formoterol fumarate 6 µg

CT thoraxRADIATION

CT scan of the thorax will be performed at 2 time points: baseline and after 6 months of treatment. The CT scan will be performed with low dose radiation using the multi-slice CT scan. Scanning will be performed at Functional Residual Capacity and Total Lung Capacity (2 times 8 sec). The lung volumes will be controlled using adapted spirometry during the CT procedure. The radiation dose will be reduced by reduction of the tube current and voltage. These settings depend on the patients' weight (1mAs/kg). In addition to this there will be an increase in noise factor to further reduce the radiation dose.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients with moderate asthma as defined by the current GINA guidelines. Patients can belong to 2 categories: Group 1 (n=15 to 20, at least 4 current smokers): Patients not well controlled (partially controlled or uncontrolled according to the GINA guidelines) when using medium daily dose of ICS or medium dose ICS + long acting inhaled 2-agonists (LABA) (for definition please refer to the addendum in section 15) given for at least 6 weeks as large-particle formulation (non extra-fine). Group 2 (n=15 to 20, at least 4 current smokers ): Patients well controlled (according to GINA guidelines) when using medium daily dose of ICS + LABA (for definition please refer to the addendum in section 15) given for at least 6 weeks as large-particle formulation (non extra-fine). 2. Male or female patients aged ≥18 years 3. Patients with a documented diagnosis of asthma according to the GINA guidelines 4. Patients with a co-operative attitude and ability to be trained to correctly use the Foster NEXThaler DPI 5. Written informed consent obtained Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients treated with extra-fine ICS either alone or with LABA 2. Pregnant or lactating females or females at risk of pregnancy at screening and not willing to use an appropriate contraception method during the study period 3. Inability to carry out pulmonary function testing 4. History of near fatal asthma 5. Hospitalization due to asthma or symptomatic infection of the airways in the previous 8 weeks 6. Patients with an uncontrolled disease or any condition that might, in the judgement of the investigator, place the patient at undue risk or potentially compromise the results or interpretation of the study 7. Cancer 8. Current alcohol or drug abuse 9. Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to study drugs and/or study drug formulation ingredients 10. Patients unlikely to comply with the protocol or unable to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study 11. Patients who received any investigational new drug within the last 4 weeks prior to the screening visit 12. Patients treated with any non-permitted concomitant medication

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

The parameters that will be obtained with the CFD based imaging and used as primary outcome parameters are: * Total airway resistance for the segmented airways iRtot * Peripheral airway resistance(from 4th bifurcation on) for the segmented airways iRperph * Total airway volume for the segmented airways (iVtot) * Peripheral airway volume (from the 4th bifurcation on) for the segmented airways (iVperiph) * Relative compliance for each lobe (iClobe-rel) * Density of the lung parenchyma given per predefined lung zone (Ldens)

Time frame: CFD will be performed based on the images of 2 CT thorax scans in a dose reduction protocol (1 CT Thorax taken at baseline and 1 CT Thorax taken after 6 months of treatment with the NEXThaler® device).

Secondary Outcomes

Lung function tests

The parameters that will be obtained with the described lung function tests are: * Dynamic lung volumes: FEV1, FVC, PEF, MEF75, MEF50, MEF25 * Static lung volumes: VC, IVC, FRC, TLC * Airway resistances: Raw, SGaw

Time frame: Lung function tests will be performed at screening (visit 1), after 2 week run-in period both pre and post dose (visit 2), after 3 months treatment (visit 5), after 6 months treatment both pre and post dose (visit 8).

Asthma Control

Asthma Control will be monitored during the study using 2 different questionnaires: the Asthma Control Test (ACT™) and the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ, both the 6-items and the 7-items test will be used.)

Time frame: Asthma control will be monitored at screening (visit 1), after 2 week run-in period (visit 2), after 3 months treatment (visit 5), after 6 months treatment (visit 8).

Safety

During the study the patient will be told to record each day taken medication and any possible comments on the daily diary cards, starting from visit 1. Further more, the patient will be contacted at least once a month (either by phone or a visit in the hospital.)

Time frame: The safety of the NEXThaler® device will be monitored for the duration of the study, an expected average of 24 weeks.