Efficacy and safety of inhaled glucocorticoids in bronchial asthma patients

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy and safety of inhaled glucocorticoids (budesonide and beclometazone dipropionate) in bronchial asthma (BA) patients. Nineteen patients (8 males and 11 females) with moderate BA were observed. They have received these drugs for 9 months. The patients demonstrated significantreduction in asthmatic attacks frequency and in need for short-acting β₂-agonists inhalations during the treatment. The reliable increase of bronchial passability parameters was registered only over 3 months after the starting of the therapy and was maintained up to the end of the observation period. Cortizol blood level, magnesium, calcium and potassium concentrations in serum, erythrocytes and in daily urine, serum osteocalcine content, lumbar vertebra density (L₂-L₄) did not differ significantly after 3, 6 and 9 months of treatment compared with the initial parameters.
Thus, the inhaled glucocorticoids possess high clinical activity in asthmatic patients’ treatment. These drugs should be prescribed for at least 3 months. The inhaled glucocorticoids used in average therapeutic doses do not effect negatively on cortizol blood level, mineral metabolism and osseous tissue.