Does boosting inhaled glucocorticoids avoid asthma exacerbations?

These two trials address the important question of whether substantial escalation of regularly used inhaled glucocorticoids prevents exacerbations if started at the first sign of deterioration, as this so-called yellow zone has long been thought the perfect time to initiate more aggressive care. However glucocorticoids have serious side effects, and there is some preclinical evidence that they may enhance viral replication

One trial shows that escalating dose in this yellow zone does not prevent exacerbations in children with the early signs of asthma instability. The second trial is more complex and more controversial, as the open-label design may have biased the outcome, and the degree of benefit is debatable.

Together, these studies suggest that high doses of inhaled glucocorticoids either do not prevent exacerbations or only do so in a small subgroup of patients with as-yet-undefined baseline and exacerbation characteristics.

Philip G. Bardin, PhD, is from the Monash Lung and Sleep Unit at the Monash University Medical Centre in Melbourne, Australia. These comments are taken from an accompanying editorial (N Engl J Med. 2018 Mar 3. doi: 10.1056/NEJMe1800152). Dr. Bardin reported personal fees from GlaxoSmithKline outside the submitted work.