title: [Prednisolone-dependent asthma patients--often under-treated in ambulatory care? Results of a retrospective study].
abstract: A retrospective descriptive analysis of 140 asthmatic patients, classified in our hospital as corticosteroid dependent and treated in outpatients departments showed, that 63% received slow release theophylline (SRT). 33% of them were within the therapeutic dose range, 44% did tolerate a further dose increase of SRT and 23% showed signs of intoxication which could be reduced by decreasing the dose. 12% of all patients were not on oral or inhaled corticosteroids at all. Only 52% received a combined antiasthmatic treatment including corticosteroids and both slow release theophylline and beta-agonists. This percentage was reduced to 18% if secretolytics are counted as a part of combination therapy. During hospital treatment it became evident that actually only 3% of all patients did not tolerate Theophylline retard due to side effects. In hospital 94% of all 140 patients received combined treatment (SRT, beta-agonists and corticosteroids). All of them showed a clear-cut improvement of major asthma symptoms (PEF monitoring, symptom scores, consumption of additional bronchodilators). It is concluded, that steroid dependent asthmatic out-patients are often undertreated: a minor part does not receive steroids at all; about one half does not receive drug therapy combined with bronchodilators; 67 per cent of the patients, who receive SRT (about 2/3 of the total number) is not under optimal theophylline dose regimen.
authors.affiliation: Forschungsinstitut für Lungenkrankheiten und Tuberkulose, Pneumologische Klinik, Berlin.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Förster
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D013806:Theophylline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D011239:Prednisolone; D013806:Theophylline
vernacular_title: Prednisolonpflichtige Asthmatiker--ambulant oft unterbehandelt?--Ergebnisse einer retrospektiven Analyse.