Telenga ED, Kerstjens HAM, Postma DS, Ten Hacken NH, van den Berge M. Inhaled corticosteroids in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a review.
Expert Opin Pharmacother 2010;
11:405-21. [PMID:
20102305 DOI:
10.1517/14656560903510628]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by chronic airflow obstruction and a progressive lung function decline. Although widely used, the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the treatment of COPD remains a matter of debate.
AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW
This article reviews the evidence about the effects of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of COPD.
WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN
Short-term treatment with ICS improves lung function and quality of life; in addition, several studies with longer follow-up have shown less decline over time in quality of life, and fewer exacerbations. By contrast, long-term studies have been unable to show substantial improvement in the decline of lung function in COPD. Based on these findings, it was concluded that the use of ICS did not influence the natural course of COPD. However, this conclusion has been challenged by two subsequent studies, TORCH and GLUCOLD, which both showed a reduction in lung-function decline over time with the use of ICS. These two studies indicate that ICS might indeed influence the natural course of the disease, at least in a subgroup of COPD patients.
TAKE HOME MESSAGE
Further studies are needed to identify which individuals have a favorable short- and long-term response to ICS treatment.
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