[Influence of changing from chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) to hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-BDP on pulmonary function in asthmatic children].

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED The discontinuation of chlorofluorocarbon- beclomethasone dipropionate (CFC-BDP) products has made it necessary to switch to hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-BDP. We studied the influence of the changing from CFC-BDP to HFA-BDP on pulmonary function in asthmatic children. METHODS: In twenty asthmatic children (mean 10.5 years of age) who were clinically well-controlled with CFC-BDP for longer than 6 months, CFC-BDP was switched to HFA-BDP, at half the dose of CFC-BDP. We examined the changes in spirometric parameters at 3-6 months after the switch. RESULTS: FEV1.0% ([FEV1.0/FVC]x100) and %V50 ([V50 measured/V50 predicted]x100) were significantly improved (FEV1.0% pre 81.7+/-4.7-->post 84.1+/-4.1 [p<0.05], % V50 pre 66.9+/-6.9-->post74.4+/-11.3 [p<0.05]). Comparison between patients with greater than 10% improvement in %V50 and those with less than 10% improvement revealed differences in the duration of using CFC-BDP (former 2.8+/-0.9 years, latter 5.2+/-2.4 years [p<0.05]) despite lack of difference in age at initiation of treatment with CFC-BDP. CONCLUSION: The changing from CFC-BDP to HFA-BDP showed the improvement of lung function in a part of asthmatic children. We should keep in mind that there are some differences of efficacy among the inhaled corticosteroid products. The long-term anti-inflammatory medication should be adjusted to normalize the pulmonary function on the basis of the degree of airway inflammation.