ABSTRACT
This paper describes a double-bond crossover trial of prednisolone and beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol in 38 steroid-dependent patients with reversible diffuse airways obstruction. Altogether there was no difference in the patient's preference of the two treatment groups or in the number of times they used their bronchodilator aerosol, or in the forced expiratory volume in one second, vital capacity, or peak expiratory flow rate in the two treatment groups. The plasma cortisol levels when the patients were on the aerosol were much higher than when they were on prednisolone. The use of inhaled aerosol steroids seems to be preferable as it eliminates the usual complications of oral steroid therapy.
Subject(s)
Airway Obstruction/drug therapy , Prednisone/therapeutic use , Pregnanetriol/therapeutic use , Administration, Oral , Adolescent , Adult , Aerosols , Bronchodilator Agents/administration & dosage , Clinical Trials as Topic , Female , Humans , Hydrocortisone/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Prednisone/administration & dosage , Pregnanetriol/administration & dosage , Spirometry , Vital CapacityABSTRACT
The effects of rifampicin and isoniazid on liver function have been studied in 63 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis; 29% showed abnormalities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) and a similar percentage abnormalities of serum bilirubin. These usually occurred during the first 12 weeks of therapy. The average duration of the abnormalities was 14(1/2) days, irrespective of whether treatment was interrupted or not.The relationship between raised SGOT and acetylator phenotype in a small number of patients suggests that those with raised SGOT are usually slow acetylator phenotypes. It seems that hepatic reactions in patients with previously normal liver function are usually mild and non-specific. However, patients who continue with rifampicin should be kept under close biochemical observation.