Introduction

Progressing deterioration of the lung function, dyspnoea, cough, wheezing and chest tightness are the main features of asthma exacerbations. The first step in the prevention of severe asthma exacerbations is to intensify the anti-inflammatory treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).

Aim

To assess the efficacy of ciclesonide in patients who have been losing control of asthma despite being treated with medium doses of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting b2-agonists (LABA) as the second controller.

Material and methods

The study was conducted in a group of 74 asthmatic patients who have been losing control of their asthma. Subjects entering the study received the following anti-inflammatory interventions: high doses of ciclesonide (1280 µg) or 640 µg of ciclesonide added to a current dose of ICS or a doubled dose of current ICS.

Results

Treatment options containing ciclesonide have shown statistically and clinically important advantages (improvement of Asthma Control Test score, reduction in rescue medication consumption, reduction in day and night symptoms score, improvement in spirometry parameters, decrease in exhaled nitric oxide, and no necessity of oral corticosteroids treatment) in comparison to patients for whom medium doses of the previously used inhaled corticosteroid were doubled.

Conclusions

Treating with high doses of ciclesonide is characterised by a quick and potent anti-inflammatory effect as well as prompt clinical improvement along with the proper safety profile in patients experiencing asthma exacerbations.