Clinical effects of complex spa therapy on patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA)

The clinical effects of spa therapy (swimming training in a hot spring pool+inhalation of iodine salt solution+fango therapy) were examined in 52 patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA). Clinical effects were found in 36 of the 52 (69.2%) patients with SDIA. The efficacy was higher in the patients between the ages of 41 and 50 (87.5%) and between 51 and 60 (84.2%) than in those in the other age groups. Regarding clinical asthma types, the efficacy of spa therapy was higher in patients with type Ia-2 (83.4%), type Ib (77.8%) and type II (80.0%) than in those with type Ia-1 (54.2%). Efficacy seemed to be related to airway inflammation: the proportion of neutrophils and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid was higher in patients with marked and moderate improvement compared with those with slight and no improvement. Ventilatory function was improved by complex spa therapy. %MMF and %V25 values increased by more than 20% after therapy in patients with type Ia-2, Ib and II asthma. Bronchial hyperreactivity to methacholine was suppressed after therapy. Any decreased function of the adrenocortical glands expressed by low serum cortisol levels improved after therapy, accompanied by a reduction in the dose of glucocorticoids necessary to control asthma attacks.