EFFECT OF BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE INHALATION ON EOSINOPHILIC BRONCHITIS IN PATIENTS WITH SILICOSIS

The efficacy of beclomethasone dipropionate (GAS 5534-09-8, BDP, beclo methasone) inhalation therapy over the course of 12 months were evalua ted in 42 patients with established chronic silicosis. Their pulmonary functions were monitored every 3 months and volume of sputum producti on was established daily. Subjects were divided randomly into two grou ps; 21 patients (BDP group) were treated with BDP (400 mu g/day) by wa y of a metered-dose inhaler, while the 31 controls did not receive the BDP inhalation therapy. Although FVC (forced vital capacity), FEV1 (f orced expiratory volume in 1 s), MMEF (maximal mean expiratory flow) a nd arterial blood oxygen tension did not improve significantly, sputum production significantly decreased in the BDP group. The patients who responded most dramatically to the treatment presented with sputum eo sinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels prior to therapy. Pulmonary t uberculosis or exacerbation of chronic airway infection was not of obs erved in any of the patients. These results suggest that corticosteroi d inhalation therapy is helpful in the management of chronic silicosis , especially in patients with sputum eosinophilia. Positive atopic fac tors may be related to the pathogenesis of eosinophilic bronchitis, a complication of chronic silicosis.