Successes and failures in the treatment of bronchial asthma

In the past decade a spectacular development could be observed in the field of antiasthmatic drugs. Though the new drugs did not produce radical change but they created a wide range of treatment possibilities. This paper is dealing with three, probably most rapidly developing fields of asthma therapy. 1. Immunotherapy. The most important allergens could be isolated in a high purity with up-to-date chemical analitical methods. This affords possibility for a more reliable determination of individual sensitivity and desensitizing treatment. 2. Mediator release blocking drugs. While common antiasthmatic medicaments try to counterbalance the effect of chemical mediators released by antigen-antibody reaction, the former partly block mediator release but also decrease bronchial hyperreactivity characteristic of asthma. 3. Glucocorticosteroids. Recent halogenized steroid preparations did not diminish the risk of severe side effects. Their application is limited in time, they are used mainly for the prevention and treatment of asthmatic crisis. Among aerosolized steroids, preparations considered as optimal have local effect but they are slightly absorbed from the mucous membrane. In spite of the new drugs, medication depending on individual sensitivity, actual complaints and lung function values is essential, the asthmatic needs continuous care based on symptoms, complaints.