Once-daily inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma.
OBJECTIVE
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the mainstay of asthma therapy. Although compliance to this type of medication is often suboptimal and once-daily dosing can help to improve adherence to the treatment, the clinical implications of such a mode of administration should be determined.


RESULTS
This review summarizes the recent studies on comparative efficacy of once-versus twice-daily administration of ICS, in light of previous reports.


CONCLUSIONS
Although twice-daily administration of ICS is often better to optimize asthma parameters, in many patients, asthma can be sufficiently controlled by a once-daily regimen of most ICS. An increased frequency of dosing seems preferable if asthma becomes uncontrolled or is severe, although this requires further study. A therapeutic trial should, however, be done to ensure that asthma control is adequate. Comparative long-term effects of such a strategy on inflammatory and remodeling parameters remain to be determined, as does the proportion of patients who can adequately control their asthma with once-daily administration of the various ICS available.
Boulet
Louis-Philippe
LP
Institut de cardiologie et de pneumologie de l'Université Laval, Hôpital Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada. lpboulet@med.ulaval.ca
D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D019819:Budesonide; D000068298:Fluticasone; D001507:Beclomethasone