[Long-term therapy of bronchial asthma]

The prerequisite for an effective therapy of bronchial asthma is a sufficiently precise characterization of the disease. Based on the demonstration of allergy or not asthma can roughly be subdivided into an extrinsic (allergy present) and an intrinsic type (allergy not demonstrable). If exposition to allergens cannot be avoided, specific hyposensibilization has to be considered in the treatment of extrinsic asthma. Several drugs are available for the management of reversible airway obstruction in both types of asthma mentioned above. Basic pharmacological mechanisms, side effects and indications for systemic and inhalation therapy of beta-sympathicomimetics, methylxanthines, anticholinergic drugs, glucocorticoids, sodium cromoglycate and ketotifen are critically discussed. Great importance was attached to an adequate selection of one of these drugs or a combination of them with respect to the individual severity of the disease. For typical clinical situations a strategy of long-term treatment is recommended.