[Oral and inhaled corticoid therapy. Rivals or partners?]

Although steroids have been prescribed as antiinflammatory preparation for the treatment of asthma for many years, fear of side effects has limited their wider use. The development of new steroid derivatives administered by inhalation has reduced these risks. Oral and inhaled steroids can be used in a separate way, oral steroids being reserved for the control of acute exacerbations and inhaled steroids for the baseline treatment of chronic asthma. Inhaled and oral steroids can also be used concurrently in the same patient. Studies have shown a reduction in the dose of oral steroids in patients taking inhaled steroids. Works carried out by the Canadian research worker Toogood have addressed the question of the equivalent clinical dosing potency of inhaled and oral steroids. Finally, the reversibility of airway obstruction in subjects affected by non-specific chronic obstructive diseases might worth be assessed by using an inhaled steroid preparation.