Influence of two different inhalation devices on therapy compliance in asthmatic patients.

Objective: To examine the influence of inhalation device (Autohaler versus metered dose inhaler) and patients' subjective opinion towards the different devices, as well as daily frequency and duration of treatment on medication compliance.

Design: Prospective study measuring compliance in the same patients of the Autohaler twice daily with the metered dose inhaler twice daily, as well the Autohaler twice daily with the Autohaler four times daily.

Setting: Primary health care.

Is the increase in bronchial responsiveness or FEV1 shortly after cessation of beta2-agonists reflecting a real deterioration of the disease in allergic asthmatic patients? A comparison between short-acting and long-acting beta2-agonists.

Regular use of beta2-agonists might result in increased bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR) and decreased forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1). It has been suggested that these possible detrimental effects are not a real deterioration of the disease, but that it might be only a transient (rebound) effect shortly after discontinuing this regular use. Moreover, these effects are thought to occur especially during short-acting and not during long-acting beta2-agonists use.

Potential masking effect on dyspnoea perception by short- and long-acting beta2-agonists in asthma.

Asthma patients evaluate the effect of medication treatment through the degree of their asthma symptoms, which might be affected by their ability to perceive these symptoms. It has been suggested that beta2-agonists may mask the effects of an increase in airway inflammation. This study compared the perception of histamine-induced bronchoconstriction during monotherapy with short- or long-acting beta2-agonists.

Inhaled corticosteroids, combined with long-acting beta(2)-agonists, improve the perception of bronchoconstriction in asthma.

The relationship between asthma medication and the perception of asthma symptoms is of interest for daily practice. Poor perception of asthma symptoms might influence patients' health care behavior and subsequently might lead to undertreatment and deterioration of their disease. This study investigated the influence of the chronic use of short-acting and long-acting beta(2)-agonists, compared with the additional use of inhaled corticosteroids on the perception of histamine-induced bronchoconstriction.

A placebo-controlled clinical trial of regular monotherapy with short-acting and long-acting beta(2)-agonists in allergic asthmatic patients.

Background: Some recent studies suggest that regular beta(2)-agonist use may result in inadequate control of asthma. It has been hypothesized that this occurs particularly in allergic asthmatic patients exposed to relevant allergens. Moreover, it is still unclear whether this occurs during the use of both short-acting and long-acting beta(2)-agonists.