title: Oral corticosteroid trials in the management of stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Although recent guidelines for managing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recommend a trial of oral corticosteroids in the initial assessment, its prognostic value remains unclear. We prospectively studied 127 adults (64% men) with stable COPD (FEV1/FVC < 60%) over 1 year. At entry, we measured lung volumes, gas transfer factor, respiratory symptoms (by questionnaire), and peripheral blood eosinophil count. Skin-prick testing was done, and spirometry after nebulized 5 mg salbutamol and, after 2 weeks, oral prednisolone. Physician A gave all patients inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (800 mcg/day), whereas physician B prescribed this only to those with a positive oral corticosteroid trial. At 1 year, spirometry and respiratory questionnaire were repeated, with an estimate of overall symptom severity on a visual analogue scale. Follow-up data were available in 104 (82%) patients. Of these, 32 (31%) were unresponsive to salbutamol and prednisolone; 48 (46%) were responsive to beta agonists but not to corticosteroids, and 24 (23%) responded to corticosteroids and salbutamol. Patients in all groups were comparable, except that the prednisolone responders had a higher mean eosinophil count (p < 0.001) and more were ex-smokers (p < 0.001). Only the response to oral prednisolone correlated with the change in prebronchodilator FEV1 over 1 year. Oral prednisolone responders had higher FEV1 at 1 year (p < 0.02) and significantly lower symptom scores (p < 0.02). In COPD, corticosteroid trials contribute information additional to that gained from nebulized bronchodilator reversibility testing. Patients with a positive response to a corticosteroid trial are more likely to have improved symptomatically and spirometrically at 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Aintree Chest Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nisar
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pearson
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Costello
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Earis
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Calverley
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D001507:Beclomethasone; D000420:Albuterol