CLINICAL EFFICACY OF BUDESONIDE TURBUHALER(R) COMPARED WITH THAT OF BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE PMDI WITH VOLUMATIC SPACER - A 2-YEAR RANDOMIZED STUDY IN 102 ASTHMA PATIENTS

A total of 102 patients had their asthma treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) optimized in order to achieve the best possible co ntrol of symptoms. Thereafter, the BDP doses were gradually reduced ov er a 2-year period (1988-90) to the lowest possible without deteriorat ion of their asthmatic condition. In the beginning of 1990, treatment was changed in 76 patients (group A) to the nearest possible dose of b udesonide delivered via Turbuhaler(R). Twenty-six randomly selected pa tients (25% of the study population; group B) continued treatment with BDP. In both groups, dose reductions were tried during 1990-2 every t hird month as long as the patients remained symptom-free and without s ignificant decreases in FEV(1) or PEF. In group A, the maintenance dos e could be reduced from 1003.9 +/- 325.4 mu g BDP (mean +/- SD) to 602 .9 +/- 454.4 mu g budesonide Turbuhaler (P<0.001). In group B, no sign ificant dose reduction was possible; the mean dose was +/- SD 1067.3 /- 36.6 mu g in 1990, and 1019.2 +/- 324.7 mu g in 1992. The results i ndicate that, in efficacy, 0.6 mg budesonide Turbuhaler corresponds to approximately 1.0 mg BDP with volumatic spacer. This difference is pr obably due to an improved pulmonary delivery of budesonide with Turbuh aler.