Dual components of optimal asthma therapy: scientific and clinical rationale for the use of long-acting beta-agonists with inhaled corticosteroids.

The authors describe the scientific rationale for using an inhaled corticosteroid with an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist. They discuss the clinical trials demonstrating that using an inhaled corticosteroid with an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist provides greater overall asthma control compared with increasing the dose of inhaled corticosteroid. In addition, they review the clinical trials comparing the addition of a leukotriene modifier to an inhaled corticosteroid versus using an inhaled corticosteroid with an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist. Discussion also includes descriptions of trials showing reduced exacerbations of asthma when using an inhaled corticosteroid with an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist. Finally, the authors provide evidence for the ability to detect deteriorating asthma when using an inhaled corticosteroid with an inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonist, and they provide a comparison of salmeterol and formoterol, two long-acting beta 2-agonists.