Inhaled corticosteroid therapy in childhood asthma
Doi, S.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 59(10): 2013-2018
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 11676147 Document Number: 528554
Asthma has been recognized as a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway. The early use of antiinflammatory agents, one of which is inhaled corticosteroids, is advocated in the treatment of chronic asthma. Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) is effective in childhood asthma. CD4 T-cell activation correlate with the values of the coefficient variation (CV) of peak expiratory flow (PEF) in asthmatic patients, suggesting that CV of PEF is a good marker for assessing not only the variability of airway obstruction but also the degree of airway inflammation. PEF monitoring is useful for better controlling asthma, because some patients treated with inhaled corticosteroid may still remain undertreated.