[Successful combination therapy in bronchial asthma. Anti-obstructive and anti-inflammatory treatment]

In a post-marketing surveillance study, patient data were documented with the aim of assessing the effect of a combination of both anti-inflammatory and bronchodilatory treatment with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate and a sustained-release theophylline preparation. A total of 2,166 patients with mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma (FEV1 about 60%) were included in the multicenter open study.

It was found that treatment with inhaled glucocorticoid and sustained-release theophylline resulted in a clear improvement in symptom scores. More than 90% of the physicians and patients rated the treatment "very good" or "good". Only 4.6% of the participants had side effects.

It may be concluded that combination therapy with inhaled glucocorticoid and sustained release theophylline is a safe and effective form of treatment of mild-to-moderate asthma.