Lung deposition of hydrofluoroalkane-134a beclomethasone is greater than that of chlorofluorocarbon fluticasone and chlorofluorocarbon beclomethasone - A cross-over study in healthy volunteers

Study objectives: To compare the lung deposition of radiolabeled hydrofluoralkane-134a beclomethasone dipropionate (HFA-BDP) with chlorofluorocarbon fluticasone propionate (CFC-FP) and chlorofluorocarbon beclomethasone (CFC-BDP). Design: Six-day, open-label, nonrandomized, crossover study. Setting: Clinical research laboratory. Participants: Nine healthy, nonsmoking, adult volunteers. Interventions: On each study day, participants inhaled one or two puffs of Tc-99m-labeled HFA-BDP, CFC-FP, or CFC-BDP. All products delivered 50 mug per puff ex-valve. Subjects used a respiratory training and monitoring device to meet predefined, standardized inhalation patterns. Immediately after inhalation of radiolabeled study, drug, planar gamma camera images were obtained. Measurements and results: Radiolabeled HFA-BDP had a higher deposition in the lungs (53% ex-actuator) compared with CFC-FP (12 to 13%) and CFC-BDP (4%). Conversely, CFC-FP and CFC-BDP had a much higher distribution to the oropharynx (72 to 78%, and 82%, respectively) than HFA-BDP (29%). HFA-BDP was deposited evenly throughout the lungs, while CFC-FP and CFC-BDP deposition was primarily in the large central and intermediate airways. Andersen particle size sampling gave mass median aerodynamic diameters for HFA-BDP, CFC-FP,and CFC-BDP of 1 0.9 mum, 2.0 mum, and 3.5 mum, respectively. Conclusions: Lung deposition was greater with HFA-BDP compared with CFC-FP and CFC-BDP. Deposition values appeared to be related to the particle size distribution of each inhaler, with the smaller particles of HFA-BDP providing the greatest lung deposition and least oropharyngeal 1 deposition.