The FEV1 dynamics before and after continuous treatment with antiasthmatic drugs

Abstract

More than 3000 respiratory function testings were analysed in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic bronchitis (CB ), who were medicated during 4—11 months with inhalational glucocorticosteroids (IGCS) of high and low doses, with theophilline, β₂-adrenomimetics of prolonged action. The patients were supervised during 5—22 months after abolition of the medicine. The efficiency of the drugs was analysed in 67 patient with most complete data on FEV₁ dynamics with its next estimation in the period of drug abolishment.

The difference between the velocity and degree of FEV₁ decrease after abolition of the medication was found, and that decrease depended not only on the dose of IGCS but on FEV₁ initial values. FEV₁ decreased faster and greater in patients medicated with high doses of IGCS and in ones withinitial FEV₁ greater than 30% pred. (p<0,05). Patients with BA were more sensible to the therapy. The same differences in FEV₁  dynamics were found in patients medicated with β₂-agonists and theophilline. The former treatment does not yields on its efficacy to IGCS treatment, especially in young patients with BA, and does not depended on the disease stage. It is necessary, however, to keep treatment constant taking into account the sharp FEV₁ decrease in patients with BA and СВ after β₂-agonist abolition. The theophilline treatment ought to be began at any stage of the disease, especially in young patients, and carried out continuously to eliminate possible worsening of the bronchial pass after medication abolition.