COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE WITH BUDESONIDE AND BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE IN MILD PERSISTENT BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Objective: To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of fluticasone propionate with that of budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate in mild persistent cases of bronchial asthma. Methods: This was an open label, randomized parallel group study done in Government General and Chest Hospital, Hyderabad for a period of 12 weeks. Each group had 20 patients. The group I was given fluticasone propionate inhalation therapy 100 mu g twice daily. Group II was given budesonide inhalation therapy 200 mu g twice daily. Group III was given beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation therapy 200 mu g twice daily. Results: Symptomatic improvement was observed in all three groups. At end point, mean FEV1 in fluticasone propionate treatment group improved by 22.04% compared with 14.53% in budesonide and 12.02% in beclomethasone treatment groups. At end point, mean FVC value of the fluticasone propionate treatment group improved by 8.04% compared with 5.29% in budesonide and 4.27% in beclomethasone groups. Mean FEV1 / FVC also improved by 12.76% in the fluticasone propionate group compared with 8.63 % in budesonide and 7.45 % in beclomethasone groups. No adverse effects were reported in any of the treatment groups. Conclusion: This study showed that fluticasone propionate is superior to budesonide and beclomethasone in improving lung function, decreasing symptoms and need for rescue medication in mild persistent asthma