title: No impairment of peripheral deposition in novel asthmatics treated with an MDI corticosteroid with spacer.
abstract: Pulmonary distribution and lung functions were evaluated during a 4-month inhaled corticosteroid treatment period in 10 steroid-naïve novel asthmatics with normal or slightly reduced lung functions. Patients were given a total daily dose of 1000 microg of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol twice a day via a pressured metered dose inhaler with a large-volume chamber device (Volumatic, GlaxoSmith Kline, U.K.). Gamma lung scintigraphy and lung function tests were performed before and after 2 months and 4 months. Inhaled 99mTc-labelled beclomethasone dipropionate liposomes were used to assess lung deposition patterns during inhaled steroid therapy. Serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) concentration was used as a surrogate marker of asthmatic inflammation. Following beclomethasone treatment, all lung functions were enhanced, but only FVC values showed significant improvement. The FEV1/FVC ratio remained slightly reduced in spite of inhaled corticosteroid therapy. However, the association between changes in improved FVC values and reduced ECP levels proved to be statistically significant. In lung scintigraphy, no evidence of changes in pulmonary deposition patterns were seen during the follow-up period. We conclude that inhaled corticosteroid therapy can lead to improvements in lung functions and surrogate markers of airway inflammation in novel asthma without affecting the peripheral deposition pattern of aerosols.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. marisanna.saari@tays.fi
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Saari
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Vidgren
authors.forename: V M H
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Turjanmaa
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Koskinen
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Nieminen
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036501:Metered Dose Inhalers; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012260:Ribonucleases; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D012260:Ribonucleases; D001507:Beclomethasone