A study of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate therapy in asthma.

Fourteen patients with asthma have been followed in a long term clinical trial of the inhaled synthetic corticosteroid, beclomethasone dipropionate. All the patients were corticosteroid-dependent, with significant corticosteroid adverse effects. Twelve of the patients were able to stay on long term beclomethasone dipropionate therapy. Eight were able to discontinue use of systemic corticosteroids. There was a statistically significant reduction in the use of systemic corticosteroids (P<0.01) for the group when they were transferred to beclomethasone dipropionate. There was also an improvement of corticosteroid adverse effects in ten patients, but no significant change in their symptom scores. Several points of caution are stressed concerning long term clinical use of this promising drug.