Inhaled corticosteroid improves bronchial reactivity and decreases symptoms in patients with mitral stenosis

To determine if treatment with inhaled budesonide forte can diminish increased bronchial hyperreactivity and improve symptoms in patients with mitral valve stenosis.

The study was randomized, double blind, and placebo controlled.

Outpatient/university hospital.

Twelve subjects, 8 female and 4 male, who qualified for mitral valve replacement. All subjects presented with increased bronchial reactivity to histamine at the time of the study.

Patients received placebo or budesonide forte twice a day (1,200 mg/d) for 6 weeks. During the study, patients were treated with the same doses of diuretics and other medications that could affect bronchial reactivity.

Spirometry, provocative concentration of histamine causing a 20% fall in the FEV1 (PC20H), symptom scores.

In the treated group, the initial PC20H was 0.82+/-0.72 mg/mL; in the placebo group 1.39+/-1.3 mg/mL. After 6 weeks of treatment, PC20H was significantly higher (3.07+/-2.28 mg/mL; p > 0.01) in the budesonide-treated group and remained unchanged in the placebo group (1.49+/-0.91). Symptom scores were significantly lower after administration of budesonide forte (mean change, 4.0+/-2.6).

Six weeks of treatment with budesonide forte significantly decreased bronchial reactivity to histamine and improved symptoms in patients with mitral valve stenosis.