Improvement in health care utilization and pulmonary function with fluticasone propionate in patients with steroid-dependent asthma at a National Asthma Referral Center

The impact of switching from other inhaled corticosteroids to fluticasone p ropionate was studied in patients with severe oral-steroid-dependent asthma over a 1-year period. In this open-label prospective study, patients on ma intenance doses of oral and inhaled steroids were referred to a national as thma treatment center and were switched from their previous inhaled cortico steroid to fluticasone propionate 880 mug BID. Compared with data collected from the year prior to enrollment, treatment with fluticasone propionate r esulted in significant improvements in pulmonary function, oral steroid req uirements, and health resource utilization. In addition, five patients were completely weaned off oral steroids.