Effect of prolonged use of inhaled steroids on the cellular immunity of children with asthma.

Background: Systemic corticosteroids may affect the cellular immunity, but there is no available controlled data on such effects associated with a prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids.

Objective: The investigation was designed to study the effect of long-term inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate in daily doses of up to 600 micrograms on cellular immune functions.

Methods: Twenty-four children with asthma treated with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate for a mean of 22.