Bronchodilator effects of formoterol after 15 days of treatment in a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by airflow limitation, causing increasing of the airway resistance and of the static pulmonary volumes, what is known as static hyperinflation. Consequently, COPD symptoms include dyspnea, typically aggravated by exercise, and sometimes cough and sputum production. The treatment requires the use of bronchodilators, preferentially the inhalers, reducing the airway resistance and hyperinflation. Formoterol is one of the most used bronchodilators in COPD management, being considered a long-acting 2-adrenoceptor agonist. In this article, it is shown the extremely positive effect of this medication on pulmonary function in a COPD patient, just after 15 days of treatment.