title: Fluticasone Propionate Reduces Oral Prednisone Use While it Improves Asthma Control.
abstract: This study examined the effect of fluticasone propionate aerosol on oral prednisone requirements in patients with severe asthma. Ninety-six patients dependent on oral prednisone were treated with placebo or fluticasone propionate aerosol (750 or 1000 &mgr;g twice daily) for 16 weeks. The dosage of oral prednisone was adjusted weekly according to predetermined criteria. Fluticasone propionate 750 and 1000 &mgr;g twice daily resulted in 69% and 88% of patients (low and high doses, respectively) not using any prednisone compared to 3% of placebo-treated patients by the end of the study. In the fluticasone propionate groups, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and peak expiratory flow rates and the number of nighttime awakenings improved at the last evaluable visit. In addition, the number of nighttime awakenings and symptomatic albuterol use declined relative to placebo values (p < 0.05). Fluticasone propionate aerosol was well tolerated. Fluticasone propionate aerosol (750 or 1000 &mgr;g twice daily) effectively and safely allowed most asthmatics who were dependent on oral corticosteriods to reduce or eliminate oral prednisone use while improving pulmonary function.
authors.affiliation: Allergy and Asthma Center, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI; Allergy and Asthma Specialists, Minneapolis, MN; Allergy Center of Arizona, Tucson, AZ; Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, LA; and Glaxo Research Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chervinsky
authors.forename: William W.
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: Steven C.
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Weisberg
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pinnas
authors.forename: Bennett P.
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: De Boisblanc
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boltansky
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pearlman
authors.forename: Lawrence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Repsher
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kellerman