Single, high-dose intramuscular triamcinolone acetonide versus weekly oral XXXX in life-threatening @entity565 : a double-blind study.

@entity1 @entity565 @entity134 @entity230 @entity1499 @entity2710 @entity2713
Effective and less toxic treatments are needed for @entity1 with severe, @entity134 -dependent @entity565 . Both low-dose oral @entity1499 and high-dose intramuscular @entity2713 have been recommended for these @entity1 . We compared the effects of these two medications on pulmonary function, peak flow rates, airway reactivity, oral @entity134 use, emergency room (ER) visits, and hospitalizations in @entity1 with @entity134 -dependent, life-threatening @entity565 . In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, we investigated 19 such @entity1 . Six of the @entity1 (Group I) received a single dose of 360 mg @entity2713 intramuscularly with placebo @entity1499 ; seven @entity1 (Group II) received placebo @entity2713 followed by low-dose oral @entity1499 (a first dose of 7.5 mg followed by 15 mg weekly); and six @entity1 (Group III) received placebo @entity2713 with placebo @entity1499 . All @entity1 used the same high-dose inhaled @entity230 . The @entity1 took tapering courses of oral @entity230 when needed, but attempted to reduce their oral @entity134 use whenever possible. @entity2710 challenge testing was performed every 6 wk, pulmonary function tests every 4 wk, and home peak-flow measurements twice daily. Oral @entity134 use, ER visits, and hospitalizations were also monitored. The @entity1 in the @entity2713 treatment group showed a significant and sustained increase in home peak-flow rates, and their FEV1 persistently improved by a mean of 40% (p < 0.05), whereas the FEV1 of the @entity1 in the @entity1499 treatment and placebo groups remained near baseline. The PC20 in the @entity2713 group increased progressively (p > 0.05), and the improvements in total mean reactivity were greater in this group than in either of the other two groups (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
