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Updated: Jul 14, 2026

Bronchial Thermoplasty: A Novel Therapeutic Approach to Severe Asthma
Published on: November 4, 2010
Evidence-based pharmacologic treatment for mild asthma
1Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Vic., Australia. kohsiyue@yahoo.com.sg
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the primary treatment for mild persistent asthma, offering better control and lung function improvement than other therapies. Early ICS intervention reduces severe exacerbations in new-onset mild asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Mild asthmatics represent the majority of asthma patients.
- There is a lack of evidence-based treatment guidelines for mild asthma compared to severe asthma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct an up-to-date literature review on asthma therapy for mild persistent asthma patients.
- To identify potential clinical trials for mild asthma treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature search of MEDLINE (1965-2007) and Cochrane library (up to February 2007).
Main Results:
- Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the cornerstone of treatment for mild persistent asthma.
- Early ICS intervention reduces severe exacerbations and improves asthma control in recent-onset mild asthma.
- ICS demonstrate superiority over leukotriene receptor antagonists and xanthines for asthma control and lung function.
Conclusions:
- ICS are the preferred treatment for mild persistent asthma.
- Consider adding long-acting beta2-agonists for moderately persistent or poorly controlled asthma on low-dose ICS.
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