Inhaled Steroids Could Be New Option For Treating Mild Asthma (p 1071)March 26, 2003Results of a large international study in this week's issue of THE LANCET provide strong evidence that inhaled steroids could substantially reduce illness associated with mild asthma. Previous research has not established whether steroids could be effective in controlling mild asthma, mainly because people with moderate disease symptoms were included in earlier studies. Romain Pauwels from Ghent's University Hospital, Belgium, and colleagues did a randomised clinical trial in over 7200 patients age 5-66 years from 32 countries to assess the effects of the steroid budesonide in patients with mild asthma. Asthma onset had to be recent (within two years) and patients had not received previous treatment with steroids. They were randomly allocated to receive either inhaled budesonide or placebo once daily for 3 years in addition to their usual asthma medication. 44% fewer patients developed severe asthma attacks (emergency visits and hospitalisations) in the group given budesonide compared with those given placebo. Patients on budesonide were 40% less likely to require systemic corticosteroids and had more symptom-free days than patients given placebo. Budesonide also improved long-term lung function and was well tolerated; however the drug had a negative influence on growth for children under 11 years of age-3-year growth was reduced in the budesonide group by 1.34 cm compared with children given placebo. Romain Pauwels comments: "Our study has shown that once-daily, low-dose budesonide decreases the risk of severe exacerbations and the need for systemic steroids in patients with mild persistent asthma, and that the drug improves their overall control of asthma. The benefits of this treatment outweigh the small effect on growth in children. Our results provide new evidence for recommendations in treatment guidelines about the use of inhaled steroids as early intervention in mild persistent asthma." See Commentary (p 1066) Lancet |
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| Related Asthma Current Events and Asthma News Articles Exposures to metals and diesel emissions in air linked to respiratory symptoms in children Exposure shortly after birth to ambient metals from residential heating oil combustion and particles from diesel emissions are associated with respiratory symptoms in young inner city children. Exposure to both traffic, indoor pollutants puts some kids at higher risk for asthma later New research presents strong evidence that the "synergistic" effect of early-life exposure to both outdoor traffic-related pollution and indoor endotoxin causes more harm to developing lungs than one or the other exposure alone. Johns Hopkins researchers track down protein responsible for chronic rhinosinusitis with polyps A protein known to stimulate blood vessel growth has now been found to be responsible for the cell overgrowth in the development of polyps that characterize one of the most severe forms of sinusitis, a study by Johns Hopkins researchers suggests. Ancestry attracts, but love is blind People preferentially marry those with similar ancestry, but their decisions are not necessarily based on hair, eye or skin colour. Common plastics chemicals linked to ADHD symptoms Phthalates are important components of many consumer products, including toys, cleaning materials, plastics, and personal care items. Asthma a significant risk factor for complications in children with H1N1 A new study on pediatric H1N1 influenza admissions has found that asthma is a significant risk factor for severe disease in children with pandemic H1N1 compared with the seasonal flu. Mother's Depression a Risk Factor in Childhood Asthma Symptoms, Study Suggests Asthma symptoms can worsen in children with depressed mothers, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center published online in the Journal of Pediatric Psychology. Sweet -- sugared polymer a new weapon against allergies and asthma Scientists at Johns Hopkins and their colleagues have developed sugar-coated polymer strands that selectively kill off cells involved in triggering aggressive allergy and asthma attacks. Pivotal study for PSD502 -- the first potential treatment for premature ejaculation At the annual meeting of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA), Inc. in San Diego, Sciele Pharma, Inc., a Shionogi Company and Plethora Solutions Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Plethora Solutions Holdings PLC ("Plethora" - AIM:PLE)., today presented data from its second positive pivotal study of PSD502 for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE). Aileron collaborates study in Nature: Stapled peptides inhibit Notch1 transcription factor This research validates the potential for Stapled Peptides to modulate key intracellular biological targets, such as transcription factors, that have not been addressable with current small molecule or biologic drug modalities. More Asthma Current Events and Asthma News Articles |
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