Similar efficacy of ciclesonide versus prednisolone to treat asthma worsening after steroid tapering

SummaryRationaleOral corticosteroids effectively treat asthma exacerbations but are associated with well-described side effects.ObjectiveThis study compared the efficacy and safety of a high dose of an inhaled corticosteroid with oral prednisolone in patients with worsening of their asthma after medication withdrawal.MethodsPatients tapered off their inhaled corticosteroids until they reached predefined criteria of “worsening asthma”. Randomized patients (n = 130) were treated double blind with either ciclesonide 800 μg twice daily (starting with 800 μg hourly for 3 h after randomization) or prednisolone 40 mg once daily for 2 weeks. Spirometry, daily asthma symptoms, morning and evening peak expiratory flow and blood parameters were assessed in all, methacholine challenge and inflammatory measures were determined in induced sputum in a subset of patients.ResultsCiclesonide was as effective as prednisolone in improving forced expiratory flow in 1 s, morning peak expiratory flow and symptoms, the latter improving more rapidly with ciclesonide. No differences were found in methacholine responsiveness or inflammatory measures in sputum or blood. Ciclesonide caused significantly less reduction in morning plasma cortisol levels (p < 0.0001).ConclusionThis study shows that inhaled ciclesonide (800 μg twice daily) has comparable efficacy to oral prednisolone (40 mg once daily) to regain asthma control in patients with asthma worsening. The more rapid onset and smaller effect on cortisol suppression suggest a better safety profile of ciclesonide.