Cortisol secretion rate during beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol therapy in bronchial asthma

Beclomethasone dipropionate is a new synthetic corticosteroid for the inhalatory treatment of bronchial asthma. The effect of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol (400 mug/day/j weeks) on the cortisol secretion rate in comparison with prednisone per os (10 mg/day/4 weeks) was investigated in 12 patients with allergic bronchial asthma. There was no suppression of the adrenal cortex in the course of beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation, while prednisone significantly suppressed adrenal cortex function.