[Investigation of optimal drug in moderate bronchial asthma].
BACKGROUND
Many drugs and the combinations of drugs are recommended for each treatment step in bronchial asthma. However, there are few issues examined about the optimal drug and combination of drugs in a long term prognosis. In this study, we investigated the optimal drugs and combinations of drugs from a point of view of prognosis.


METHODS
One hundred and ninety four patients who visited our hospital for treatment from November, 2003 to October, 2004 and were managed according to GINA guideline were surveyed retrospectively. We compared the rate of step up and the frequency of urgent visit and urgent hospitalization in one year between drug groups in each treatment step.


RESULTS
The rate of step up was significantly higher in leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) group than in inhalation corticosteroid (ICS) group and theophylline group in Step 2. The frequency of urgent visit and urgent hospitalization was significantly higher in ICS+LTRA group than in ICS+theophylline group and ICS+long-acting beta 2-agonist (LABA) group in Step 3.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a possibility that the prognosis becomes bad when we use LTRA in the practical treatment according to GINA guideline.
Department of Respiratory Medicine, St. Luke's International Hospital.
Akihisa
A
Kataoka
Naoki
N
Nishimura
Noboru
N
Uchiyama
Hiroshi
H
Ono
Jun
J
Kishi
Naohiko
N
Chonabayashi
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists