[Sodium nedocromil (Tilade) in the treatment of severe forms of asthma in children]

Twenty-four children with medium severe and severe asthma were treated for a period of three months with sodium nedocromil (Tilade), twice a day 4 mg in a dispensed aerosol. All patients took concurrently on a long-term basis various antiasthmatic drugs and half the children also corticosteroids. Evaluation of the effect was based on changes of the clinical picture, drug consumption and some other examinations. The authors compared the state one month before onset of treatment with the last month during the three-month therapy and one month after termination of therapy. In the entire group of patients gradually the number of asthmatic attacks declined, the greatest decline was observed during the third month of treatment. At the same time a statistically significant improvement of symptoms was recorded characterizing the clinical condition of the patients during day and night. Both these parameters deteriorated again one month after termination of treatment. The consumption of aerosol sympathomimetics and partly also of theophylline declined. Corticotherapy was not affected and pulmonary functions did not improve. The investigated immunological parameters did not change. With the exception of two patients where inhalation had an irritating effect, treatment was tolerated well and produced no side-effects. Sodium nedocromil is a drug which extends the spectrum of preventive antiasthmatics, but has no major effect on children with the most severe forms of asthma.