title: Effect of high dose inhaled corticosteroids on cell mediated immunity in patients with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cell mediated immunity is suppressed by systemic corticosteroids. Inhaled corticosteroids have been shown to affect parameters including bone metabolism, hypothalamus-pituitary adrenal axis, linear growth, and lead to the development of cataracts. However, it is unclear if high dose inhaled corticosteroid therapy affects cell mediated immunity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate if asthma patients taking high dose inhaled corticosteroids chronically have reduced cell mediated immunity compared to asthma patients not taking inhaled corticosteroids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen asthmatic subjects participated in this cross-sectional study. Cell mediated immunity was evaluated in nine patients who had been taking high dose inhaled corticosteroids for >6 months and nine patients not taking inhaled corticosteroids. Cell mediated immunity was evaluated by delayed type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin testing with intradermal placement of candida and tetanus antigens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in DTH skin test results between the high dose inhaled corticosteroid and no corticosteroid treated asthma group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with asthma taking high dose inhaled corticosteroids chronically (>6 months) did not have significantly greater impaired cell mediated immunity than patients not taking inhaled corticosteroids in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Immunology, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System/University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States. christina.h.lee@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Klaustermeyer
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones