Intramuscular high-dose triamcinolone acetonide in the treatment of severe chronic asthma

We describe our experience with administering intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide to 22 steroid-dependent patients with asthma. These patients represent the minority of those with asthma whose disease is characterized by frequent emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and long-term dependency on oral corticosteroid therapy. The participants were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups, one group receiving 120 mg of intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide, the second receiving 360 mg as a series of three 120-mg daily doses. We determined relative efficacy by comparing peak expiratory flow rates and incidents of emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and ventilatory failure of the study and during the 12 months before enrollment. Peak expiratory flow rates improved significantly in both groups. The mean (+/- standard deviation [SD]) monthly percentage of predicted peak expiratory flow on the study was 88.6 +/- 3.7% and 91.2 +/- 3.9% compared with 63 +/- 15.1% and 64 +/- 14.5% at entry in patients receiving 120 and 360 mg, respectively (P < 0.02). Patients receiving 120 mg required 8 hospital stays and 8 emergency department visits compared with 27 hospital stays and 72 emergency department visits in the previous year (P < 0.05). Patients receiving 360 mg required 5 hospital stays and 5 emergency department visits compared with 33 hospital stays and 34 emergency department visits in the previous year (P < 0.05). The average monthly interval (+/- SD) between exacerbations was 2.7 +/- 2.3 and 7.8 +/- 3.5 for patients receiving 120 mg and 360 mg, respectively. A total of 25 intubations was required in the previous year and only 1 during the study. The incidence of cushingoid facies, weight gain, and hypertension was reduced in both groups (P < 0.05). Total steroid use was reduced in both groups (P < 0.02). A dose of 360 mg produced a longer exacerbation-free period than 120 mg (P < 0.02).