Methodology
Randomised controlled study of clinical efficacy of spacer
therapy in asthma with regard to electrostatic charge
E Dompelinga, A M Oudesluys-Murphyb, H M Janssensc, W Hopd, J G Brinkmanb, R N Sukhaie, J C de Jongstec
a Department of
Paediatric Pulmonology, University Hospital Maastricht, P Debyelaan 25, PO Box 5800, 6202 AZ Maastricht, Netherlands, b Department of Paediatrics, Medisch Centrum
Rijnmond Zuid, lokatie Zuider, Groene Hilledijk 315, 3025 EA Rotterdam,
Netherlands, c Department of Paediatrics, Paediatric
Respiratory Medicine, Sophia Children's Hospital and Erasmus
University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands, d Department
of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Erasmus University Rotterdam,
Netherlands, e Department of
Paediatrics, University Hospital Leiden, Netherlands
Correspondence to: Dr Dompeling edom{at}skin.azm.nl
Accepted 23 August 2000
BACKGROUND
Inhalation therapy using
a pressured metered dose inhaler (pMDI) and a spacer is frequently used
in the treatment of airway disease in children. Several laboratory
studies found a clear negative influence of electrostatic charge (ESC)
on plastic spacers on the delivery of aerosol.
AIMSTo investigate whether ESC on
plastic spacers could diminish bronchodilating responses to salbutamol.
METHODSNinety asthmatic
children (aged 4-8 years) were randomised into three groups: metal
Nebuchamber, plastic Volumatic, and plastic Aerochamber. The
bronchodilating response was measured by the change in peak expiratory
flow rate (PEF) after 100 µg and 400 µg salbutamol. Within the
Volumatic and Aerochamber groups, a crossover comparison was made
between electrostatic and non-electrostatic spacers.
RESULTSWe found no significant
effect of ESC on the bronchodilating response to salbutamol with any of
the doses in the Aerochamber and Volumatic groups. For the plastic
spacers, the mean difference of the change in PEF after 100 µg
salbutamol between non-electrostatic and electrostatic spacers was only
+1.7% (95% CI 
1.3% to 4.7%). After 400 µg salbutamol this was
+1.9% (95% CI 1.4% to 5.1%). A comparable efficacy was found for
the Nebuchamber, the Aerochamber, and Volumatic with respect to the
change in PEF after 100 and 400 µg salbutamol.
CONCLUSIONThis study showed no
negative influence of ESC on plastic spacers with regard to clinical
efficacy of a 
2 agonist (salbutamol) in children with
asthma. The metal Nebuchamber, plastic Aerochamber, and plastic
Volumatic were equally effective.
Keywords: asthma; spacer; electrostatic charge; salbutamol
© 2001 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
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Arch. Dis. Child. 2001 84: 0.[Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]
This article has been cited by other articles:
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Kelso, J. M.
(2002). Randomized, Controlled Study of Clinical Efficacy of Spacer Therapy in Asthma with Regard to Electrostatic Charge. Pediatrics
110: 456-457
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