EVALUATION OF ANTIASTHMA MEDICATIONS IN C HILDREN

Antiasthma agents are usually evaluated in children only after they ha ve been developed in adults. Homogeneous well-defined study population s should be selected on the basis of age, respiratory function test re sults, symptoms, and drug use. Because the severity of asthma varies w idely across patients and over time in a given patient, studies of ant iasthma drugs should be long-term. Delivery of inhaled drugs should be done in a well-standardized manner (method of inhalation, delivery sy stem, dose). Whenever possible, the evaluation criteria should include a parameter reflecting ventilatory function (peak flow rate, forced e xpiratory volume in one second). The marked placebo effect seen in ast hma requires use of a controlled design.