[Glucocorticosteroid therapy in bronchial asthma].
Corticosteroid inhibits airway inflammation associated with eosinophils and lymphocytes in bronchial asthma. Asthma severity is classified according to symptoms, airflow obstruction (PEF) and treatment requirement. Step 1: A patient has mild asthma. Inhaled corticosteroid, beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), is used not to exceed 200 micrograms a day. Step 2: A patient has moderate asthma. The primary therapy is 200-400 micrograms of BDP a day. Step 3: If the patient experiences exacerbations, 400 to 1000 micrograms of BDP a day are required. Step 4: A patient has severe asthma. Oral corticosteroid and/or 800-1600 micrograms of BDP are available. Intravenous corticosteroid therapy for acute exacerbation of asthma is applied for patients who have moderate or severe exacerbation. Corticosteroids are currently the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of asthma. Corticosteroids, however, have many sort of adverse effects. Adverse effects of inhaled corticosteroids are less than those of oral corticosteroid except for local effects. Use of spacer and gargle after the inhalation are recommended to reduce the local adverse effects.
Yamada
G
G
Department of Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo University School of Medicine.
Makino
S
S
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D001507:Beclomethasone