Single-dose inhaled budesonide in subjects with chronic asthma

In 30 stable asthmatics, a comparison was made between the changes in pulmonary function (FEV1, FVC, PEF, MEF75, MEF50 and MEF25) hourly for 9 h after a single dose of inhaled budesonide 1,600 micrograms, and placebo. All subjects used inhaled steroids daily; this medication was, however, withheld 8 days prior to the study. For all parameters of pulmonary function, a significant difference in favour of budesonide was demonstrated. The effect tended to decrease after 9 h, and had abated within 24 h. FEV1 age, sex, smoking habits, or results of an inhaled beta 2-agonist reversibility test could not be demonstrated as predictors of those subjects to react with the most pronounced responses to budesonide. In conclusion, our results demonstrate an effect 3 h after administration of an inhaled glucocorticosteroid in adult outpatients with chronic asthma. These results parallel previous findings in highly selected asthmatics and after systemic administration of glucocorticosteroids. Single-dose administration and subsequent monitoring for 8-9 h may therefore prove valuable in evaluating new prophylactic agents for the treatment of asthma.