[Treatment of asthma in adults]

The treatment of bronchial asthma comprises preventive measures, specific allergen immunotherapy and pharmacotherapy. The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of preventive measures such as avoidance of the offending allergens and abstinence from smoking so far have not been sufficiently evaluated. Indications for specific immunotherapy are relative and primarily refer to the symptoms caused by the respective allergens. For the most part, asthma therapy therefore relies on the available drugs that may be administered as either long-term or rescue medication. Inhaled glucocorticoids and long-acting beta 2 agonists are the mainstay of chronic treatment which is required for persistent asthma; substances applied if needed basically include short- and long-acting beta 2 agonists as well as systemic glucocorticoids for exacerbations of asthma. More recent guidelines can suitably be translated into the best treatment possible, especially with respect to the reduction of mucosal remodelling which aims at improving the patient's prognosis.