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Pharmacological Therapy: Inhaled Corticosteroids

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Book cover COPD

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM))

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Key Points

  • Inhaled corticosteroids have a more favourable safety profile than oral corticosteroids.

  • Inhaled corticosteroids do not consistently modify inflammatory cell numbers in sputum or the airway wall of COPD patients.

  • Inhaled corticosteroids produce small improvements in lung function with significantly better health status and exacerbation frequency than patients not so treated. The change in the number of exacerbations largely drives the improvement in exacerbation frequency. The effects of inhaled corticosteroids on the rate of decline of lung function remain controversial.

  • Despite their symptomatic benefits inhaled corticosteroids alone do not modify the risk of dying from COPD.

  • Bone and eye side effects are not increased in frequency in inhaled corticosteroid users but clinically diagnosed pneumonia is.

  • Inhaled corticosteroids are not recommended for use as monotherapy in COPD but significantly increase clinical benefits when used together with long-acting beta-agonists and this includes a reduction in the risk of dying.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Infection and Immunity, The University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK

    Paul Albert & Peter M. A. Calverley

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  1. Paul Albert
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  2. Peter M. A. Calverley
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care M, Baylor College of Medicine, 1504 Taub Loop, Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Nicola A. Hanania

  2. Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, 77030, Texas, USA

    Amir Sharafkhaneh

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Albert, P., Calverley, P.M.A. (2011). Pharmacological Therapy: Inhaled Corticosteroids. In: Hanania, N., Sharafkhaneh, A. (eds) COPD. Respiratory Medicine. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-357-8_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-357-8_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-949-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-357-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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