THEOPHYLLINE VS BUDESONIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF MILD-TO-MODERATE BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA

Eight patients with mild extrinsic asthma participated in a double-blind randomized intraindividual cross-over study involving 6 weeks' treatment with twice daily oral theophylline(2 x 1 capsules = 800 mg/day Cronasma 400(R)) and 6 weeks' treatment with twice daily inhaled budesonide (2 x 2 puffs = 0.8 mg/day Pulmicort(R)) with nebuhaler administered in the morning and in the evening before eating. Lung function and carbachol provocation measured with the whole-body box method were performed at the beginning and after 6 weeks of treatment. Mucociliary clearance (MC) assessed with a scintillation camera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were both performed after 6 weeks of treatment. All patients documented daily peak flows in the morning and in the evening. [GRAPHICS] Additional use of beta(2)-agonists at night and during the day was not different for theophylline (0.10 +/- 0.39 and 1.16 +/- 2.87 puffs) and budesonide (0.11 +/- 0.45 and 1.97 +/- 3.02 puffs). MC (32 +/- 15% under theophylline and 33 +/- 14% after budesonide), carbachol provocation and lung function data at the end of both treatment periods were the same as well as BAL data. Two patients needed a reduction of the theophylline dose due to nausea. This study documents the equipotency of theophylline (mean blood level 11.9 +/- 4.6 mg/l) and budesonide (2 x 2 puffs = 0.8 mg/day) in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma.