Efficacy response of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate in asthma is proportional to dose and is improved by formulation with a new propellant.

Background: This study tested the hypothesis that there would be improved asthma control with increasing doses of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) formulated in hydrofluoroalkane-134a (HFA-BDP) and the standard chlorofluorocarbon propellants (CFC-BDP). Because HFA-BDP has improved lung deposition compared with CFC-BDP, this study also tested the hypothesis that HFA-BDP would provide more effective control of asthma than CFC-BDP.

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized, parallel-group blinded study, asthmatic subjects who had deterioration in asthma control after discontinuation of inhaled corticosteroids were randomized to receive one of 6 possible treatments: 100 microg/d, 400 microg/d, or 800 microg/d of HFA-BDP or 100 microg/d, 400 microg/d, or 800 microg/d of CFC-BDP for 6 weeks. Changes in spirometry, daytime asthma symptom and nighttime asthma-related sleep disturbance scores, morning and evening peak expiratory flows, and daily use of inhaled beta-agonist for symptom control on diary cards were assessed over 6 weeks of treatment.

Results: Three hundred twenty-three patients were randomized to the 6 treatment groups, which had similar demographics and baseline lung function. There were significantly larger changes from baseline at week 6 in FEV(1) percent predicted with increasing doses of both HFA-BDP and CFC-BDP. The FEV(1) percent predicted dose-response curve for HFA-BDP was shifted to the left compared with the dose-response curve for CFC-BDP. By using the Finney bioassay method, it was calculated that 2.6 times as much CFC-BDP would be required to achieve the same improvement in FEV(1) percent predicted as HFA-BDP (95% confidence interval, 1.1-11.6). All treatment groups except the 100 microg/d CFC-BDP group tolerated study drug well. Ten (17%) of 59 patients in this group reported an acute asthma episode, increased asthma symptoms (6 of the 8 reports of increased asthma symptoms were classified as severe), or both, and 8 patients withdrew from the study (3 for adverse events related to asthma).

Conclusions: Increasing doses of inhaled corticosteroids lead to improved lung function and asthma control. Moreover, the reformulation of BDP in HFA enables effective asthma control at much lower doses than CFC-BDP.