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Mometazone Furoate Effectively Reduces Oral Prednisone Requirements in Severe Asthma: Presented at CHEST
By Peggy Peck
Special to DG News
SAN DIEGO, CA -- November 8, 2002 -- Mometazone furoate administered by metered dose inhaler appears to be effective in reducing oral prednisone requirements to levels significantly lower than the minimum effective doses achieved with other inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).
The results of a 12-week multicenter placebo controlled study were presented here November 7 at CHEST 2002, the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians.
Jill P. Karpel, MD of Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York, United States, said mometasone furoate (MF) was administered by hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-227 metered dose inhaler (MDI).
One hundred twenty-eight patients were recruited for the study. The minimal effective dose of oral prednisone achievable with other ICS was determined for each patient prior to randomisation. Patients were then randomised to treatment groups that received MF-MDI 400 mcg twice daily (bid), MF-MDI 800 mcg bid, or placebo.
Each patient was assessed at weekly intervals according to a series of conservative criteria to determine their eligibility for prednisone dose reduction.
At end point, the mean daily prednisone dose was significantly reduced (p<.01) from the minimum effective dose established at baseline for patients given MF-MDI 400 mcg bid (-39 percent) or MF-MDI 800 mcg bid (-31 percent) compared with an increase in prednisone dose for patients given placebo (+107 percent).
A breakdown of the results based on ICS medication used prior to the study indicated that prednisone use was reduced to similar extents regardless of whether patients had previously been using fluticasone propionate (FP), beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), or triamcinolone acetonide (TAA).
Dr. Karpel concluded that MF-MDI may be effective in reducing oral prednisone use in patients with severe persistent asthma who achieve limited success in reducing their oral corticosteroid use while on other ICS.
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