Effect of inhaled budesonide on severe steroid-dependent asthma.
Twenty-four patients with severe steroid-dependent asthma participated in a double-blind cross-over study performed in two centers. After a run-in period of 2 weeks when beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) (400 micrograms/day) was used, the patients were treated for 4 weeks with either a high-dose (1600 micrograms/day) or a low-dose (400 micrograms/day) of budesonide (Pulmicort). Thereafter the doses of budesonide were switched and the treatment continued for a further 4-week period. Patients treated with high-dose budesonide displayed significant improvements in airway functions. In addition, subjective scores for cough, sputum production and dyspnoea were more improved in the high-dose group than in the low-dose group. The need for concomitant beta 2-agonist therapy was also significantly reduced during the high-dose treatment. No significant changes in plasma cortisol levels were detected and no adverse effects of importance were registered. The results indicate that high-dose budesonide treatment improves the clinical status of patients with severe steroid-dependent asthma more than a low-dose therapy but without causing systemic side-effects.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019819:Budesonide; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D019819:Budesonide