Once-daily administration of fluticasone propionate does not worsen controlled airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Inhaled steroids are currently the most important drugs for asthma patients, but compliance tends to be low. Compliance could be improved by reducing the number of daily administrations.


OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we compared once- and twice-daily administration of fluticasone propionate (FP) to determine the differences in efficacy.


METHODS
Subjects were 40 patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma with stable symptoms and pulmonary functions who were on twice-daily FP administration of 100 microg. There were 14 men and 26 women ranging from 29 to 72 years of age. After a 4-week observation period, subjects were randomized into two administration groups by the envelope method and followed for 8 weeks: group A, once-daily administration (200 microg of FP at night), and group B, twice-daily administration (100 microg of FP in the morning and at night). Clinical symptoms, pulmonary functions and airway responsiveness were compared between these two groups.


RESULTS
No significant deterioration in clinical symptoms, pulmonary functions and airway responsiveness were observed in group A compared with group B.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrate that once-daily FP administration is as effective as twice-daily administration, and that it may improve the compliance for inhaled steroids.
Shigyo
M
M
Clinical Research Institute, National Fukuoka-Higashi Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan.
Inoue
H
H
Honda
Y
Y
Takata
S
S
Iwanaga
T
T
Koto
H
H
Takahashi
N
N
Ichiki
H
H
Aizawa
H
H
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000068298:Fluticasone