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Sodium cromoglycate (SCG) demonstrated superiority over placebo in a long-term asthma trial. While beneficial for some, continuous SCG use was not essential for all patients.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- Asthma management requires long-term therapeutic strategies.
- Sodium cromoglycate (SCG) is an established asthma medication.
- Evaluating long-term efficacy and necessity of SCG is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the long-term efficacy of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) in asthma patients.
- To compare SCG with and without isoprenaline against a placebo control.
- To determine if continuous SCG use is necessary for sustained benefit.
Main Methods:
- A long-term, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving two centers (Edinburgh and London).
- Patients received SCG with or without isoprenaline, or placebo, over 36 and 52 weeks.
- A second-year follow-up involved random placebo allocation for some patients.
Main Results:
- Both SCG regimens were significantly superior to placebo in both trial centers.
- SCG efficacy was consistent across patients with extrinsic and intrinsic asthma.
- In the second year, some patients maintained benefit on SCG, while others did well on placebo.
Conclusions:
- Sodium cromoglycate (SCG) offers a significant long-term therapeutic advantage in asthma management.
- The necessity of continuous SCG treatment may vary among individuals.
- Further research could explore personalized SCG treatment protocols.
Abstract:
A long-term double-blind trial of sodium cromoglycate (SCG) with and without isoprenaline, with a placebo control, was undertaken in Edinburgh to a similar design as a previously reported trial in London. The results from the two centres were compared and combined. In Edinburgh 41 patients were studied for 36 weeks and 40 for 52 weeks and in the combined series 121 were studied for 36 weeks and 114 for 52 weeks. In the second year 14 patients were followed-up in Edinburgh and 27 in London. The two SCG regimens were superior overall to placebo both in the Edinburgh and London patients. SCG was effective in similar proportions of patients with extrinsic and intrinsic asthma. In the second year the effectiveness of SCG was further tested by randomly allocating half the patients to a placebo. Some patients derived a continuing benefit from SCG, but its continued use did not appear to be necessary for others, whose progress on placebo was satisfactory.