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Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2015; 36(04): 523-542
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1556057
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

New Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Peter Calverley
1   School of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
,
Ben Vlies
1   School of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 August 2015 (online)

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Abstract

The last 5 years have seen a proliferation of data about the best way to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). New long-acting inhaled β-agonist and antimuscarinic drugs have been developed as a once-daily inhaled corticosteroid. Studies have tested whether these agents are safe and effective alone or in combination. Alternative strategies to treatment including phosphodiesterase-4 inhibition and long-term antibiotic treatment have become reasonable alternatives to more established approaches, at least in terms of preventing COPD exacerbations. New data are beginning to define which patients benefit from which treatments and this will help us develop more appropriate treatment regimes. These topics are considered in this review which provides an overview of the latest data and some direction as to how these findings can be applied in practice.

Keywords

bronchodilator - long-acting β-agonist - long-acting antimuscarinic - inhaled corticosteroids - combination therapy - phosphodiesterase-4 inhibition - long-term antibiotics