[Clinical study of inhaled corticosteroid in non-asthmatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].
OBJECTIVE
There is less unanimity about the effects of inhaled corticosteroid in patients with non-asthmatic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD). The aim of this study is to determine whether patients with non-asthmatic COPD have favorable responses to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS).


METHODS
A randomized, placebo-controlled, single-blind trial of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate(BDP 1000 micrograms daily for 6 weeks) was carried out in 61 patients with stable non-asthmatic COPD. Before and after the therapy, the scores of clinical symptoms and the scores of quality of life were recorded, and the pulmonary function and plasma level of endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured.


RESULTS
58 patients finished the study. Compared with the placebo-group, after receiving 6 weeks of ICS therapy, the BDP group showed significant improvement in clinical symptoms (P < 0.05), but not in the quality of life (P > 0.05). There was also an improvement in FEV1(P < 0.001), but not in MMEF (P > 0.05). The plasma concentration of ET-1 was not changed significantly in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggested that the therapy of ICS (1000 micrograms daily for 6 weeks) can improve clinical symptoms and pulmonary function in patients with stable non-asthmatic COPD, but cannot affect the quality of life and the plasma concentration of ET-1.
Ouyang
R
R
Second Subsidiary Hospital of Hunan Medical University, Changsha 410011.
Yin
B
B
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001507:Beclomethasone