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Background/Objective: To demonstrate therapeutic equivalence of terbutaline via two different Turbuhaler((R)) devices by evaluating its protective effect against methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in stable asthma.Methods: In this double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre, single-dose, 4-way crossover study, patients with stable mild-to-moderate asthma (FEV1 >= 80% predicted) were randomised to 0.5 or 1.5 mg terbutaline via either Turbuhaler((R)) M2 or Turbuhaler((R)) M3 followed by a methacholine challenge test. The primary outcome variable was the concentration of methacholine causing a 20% drop in FEV1 (PC20). Patients had a PC20 methacholine Results: 60 patients (mean age 31.1 years [range:18-64]; mean FEV1 92.1% predicted normal [78.4 -120.6%]) were randomised to treatment; all completed the study. There was a clear dose-response for both devices. The within-device ratios (1.5 mg:0.5 mg) were 1.79 and 1.87 for Turbuhaler((R)) M3 and M2, respectively (both p Conclusions: Bronchoprotection using a standardised methacholine challenge model proved to be an effective design to elucidate therapeutic equivalence between devices in patients with mild-to-moderate asthma. The findings indicate that patients may switch from one type of Turbuhaler((R)) to the other without adjustment of therapy. Moreover, they show the robustness and utility of this study design and its suitability for investigating therapeutic equivalence. (c) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND The rate of rebleeding from peptic ulcers could differ between Asian and Western populations. AIM To determine whether the observed twofold difference in rebleeding rates in two similarly designed clinical trials (one in Hong Kong [n=240], the other in a multinational Western population [n=764, http://ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00251979]) can be explained by differences in baseline patient characteristics. METHODS Two-factor and multifactor analyses (adjusted by demographics, established risk factors for peptic ulcer and peptic ulcer bleeding, and disease severity variables) were performed using pooled data from the two studies. Cox regression analysis was used to predict the rebleeding risk at 3 days. RESULTS In the two-factor analysis (placebo vs esomeprazole/omeprazole and Western study vs Hong Kong study), data trended towards a reduced risk of rebleeding in the Western study (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.44–1.07; p = 0.094). The risk of rebleedingwas similar in both studies after adjustment for multiple factors (HR: 1.10; 95% CI 0.60–1.99; p=0.767). The strongest predictor of rebleeding (apart from study drug) was a classification of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade IV (HR: 4.15; 95% CI 1.49–11.56;p=0.006). When such patients were excluded, the difference in rebleeding rates between the studies reduced. CONCLUSIONS The difference in rebleeding rates between the two studies is explained by the factors in our analysis, most importantly a classification of ASA grade IV, suggesting that other differences, including ethnicity, did not influence the rebleeding rate. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A planned change from Bricanyl® (terbutaline) Turbuhaler® M2 to M3 device required a pharmacodynamic study to evaluate therapeutic equivalence of the two devices. Because of the flat dose–response curve for this type of agent over this dose range when assessing bronchodilation, a bronchoprotection study was considered more feasible. In this double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre, single-dose, two-factor, crossover study, patients with stable mild-to-moderate asthma were randomised to 0.5 or 1.5 mg terbutaline via Turbuhaler® M2 or Turbuhaler® M3 followed by a methacholine challenge test. Primary outcome variable: concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20). Pairwise contrasts were constructed with 95% CIs to determine assay sensitivity for M2 and M3 devices and therapeutic equivalence at each dose level (95% CI for M3:M2 devices within pre-specified limit [0.67–1.50]) and the relative dose-potency (RDP) between M3 and M2 determined with 90% CI. Sixty patients were randomised and all completed the study. Between-device ratios of PC20 (M3:M2) were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.75–1.13) for 0.5 mg and 0.88 (95% CI 0.72–1.08) for 1.5 mg and estimated RDP was 1.20 (0.96–1.53). In conclusion, a methacholine provocation study (PC20 primary variable) is a useful alternative to the standard bronchodilation study when assessing therapeutic equivalence of a bronchodilator.

These studies evaluated the safety and efficacy of enteric-coated budesonide for the induction and maintenance of remission of mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease (CD) in children.The consecutive, multicenter, open-label, non-comparative studies enrolled patients aged 6-17 years. In the induction study, patients with active CD of the ileum and/or ascending colon received budesonide 9 mg or 6 mg once daily for 8 weeks; in the maintenance study, patients in remission received budesonide 6 mg once daily for 12 weeks. The primary objective was assessment of safety, including glucocorticosteroid-related side effects and serum cortisol levels. Efficacy was assessed using the Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the IMPACT-III questionnaire.In the induction study (n = 108), most adverse events were related to CD, commonly abdominal pain; possible glucocorticosteroid-related effects included acne and increased appetite but without significant weight gain. Subnormal morning cortisol levels were observed in 32 of 103 patients after 8 weeks. Budesonide reduced disease activity from baseline (mean ± standard deviation, 9.1 ± 8.5 vs. 19.1 ± 10.1, p .001) with 58.1% of patients reaching remission (PCDAI10); HRQoL improved (p .001). In the maintenance study (n = 50), mean disease activity worsened (p = .047) with HRQoL unchanged (p = .33).Budesonide treatment was generally well tolerated, although the potential for adrenal suppression was noted. Budesonide was effective for induction of remission in children with mild-to-moderate CD but not for maintaining remission (ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT01444092, NCT01453946).

Summary Background Little is known regarding patient characteristics that influence the speed of reflux oesophagitis (RO) healing. Aim To investigate patient characteristics that may influence RO healing rates. Methods A post hoc analysis of clinical trial data for potent acid suppression treatment of RO (esomeprazole or AZD0865) was conducted. Group A underwent endoscopy at baseline, week 2 and 4, and group B at baseline, week 4 and 8. Group A patients were sub-grouped as ‘rapid’ (healed at 2 weeks) or unhealed at 2 weeks. Group B patients were sub-grouped as ‘slow’ (healed at 8 weeks, not at 4 weeks) or ‘refractory’ (not healed at 8 weeks). Logistic regression analysis was performed only for comparisons within group A. Results At 2, 4 and 8 weeks, RO had healed in 68%, 65% and 61% of patients unhealed at previous endoscopy, respectively. Low-grade [vs. high-grade (C or D)] RO was the only independent predictor of rapid healing in group A after logistic regression analysis. Significantly more rapid healers had low grade RO (A or B) at baseline than patients with refractory RO (84% vs. 49%; P

High-quality data regarding the efficacy of acid-suppressive treatment for unexplained chest pain are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of esomeprazole in primary-care treatment of patients with unexplained chest pain stratified for frequency of reflux/regurgitation symptoms.Patients with a ≥ 2-week history of unexplained chest pain (unrelated to gastroesophageal reflux) who had at least moderate pain on ≥ 2 of the last 7 days were stratified by heartburn/regurgitation frequency (≤ 1 day/week (stratum 1) vs. ≥ 2 days/week (stratum 2)) and randomized to 4 weeks of double-blind treatment with twice-daily esomeprazole 40 mg or placebo. Chest pain relief during the last 7 days of treatment (≤ 1 day with minimal symptoms assessed daily using a 7-point scale) was analyzed by stratum in keeping with the predetermined analysis plan.Overall, 599 patients (esomeprazole: 297, placebo: 302) were randomized. In stratum 1, more esomeprazole than placebo recipients achieved chest pain relief (38.7% vs. 25.5%; P=0.018); no between-treatment difference was observed in stratum 2 (27.2% vs. 24.2%; P=0.54). However, esomeprazole was superior to placebo in a post-hoc analysis of the whole study population (combined strata; 33.1% vs. 24.9%; P=0.035).A 4-week course of high-dose esomeprazole provided statistically significant relief of unexplained chest pain in primary-care patients who experienced infrequent or no heartburn/regurgitation, but there was no such significant reduction in patients with more frequent reflux symptoms.

Most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease experience symptomatic relapse after stopping acid-suppressive medication. The aim of this study was to compare willingness to continue treatment with esomeprazole on-demand versus continuous maintenance therapy for symptom control in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) after 6 months. This multicenter, open-label, randomized, parallel-group study enrolled adults with NERD who were heartburn-free after 4 weeks’ treatment with esomeprazole 20 mg daily. Patients received esomeprazole 20 mg daily continuously or on-demand for 6 months. The primary variable was discontinuation due to unsatisfactory treatment. On-demand treatment was considered non-inferior if the upper limit of the one-sided 95 % confidence interval (CI) for the difference between treatments was

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 34: 714–723 Summary Background Patients with dyspepsia often experience troublesome symptoms. Aim To assess the burden of uninvestigated dyspepsia (symptoms, health-related quality of life [HRQL] and work productivity) before and after 8 weeks’ esomeprazole treatment. Methods Patients (n = 1250) with uninvestigated dyspepsia (no endoscopy within 6 months and ≤2 endoscopies within 10 years) underwent a 1-week esomeprazole acid-suppression test before randomisation to 7 weeks’ esomeprazole or placebo. The Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ), Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (WPAI) questionnaires were completed at baseline (1-week off-treatment) and 8 weeks. WPAI results were further analysed among patients who responded to the acid-suppression test. Results The highest baseline symptom score was for the RDQ dyspepsia domain, and the highest disease burden was for QOLRAD vitality and food/drink problems. After 8 weeks, significant improvements vs. placebo were observed for all RDQ and QOLRAD domains. The sub-population of acid-suppression test responders, but not the total WPAI population, had a significant work productivity improvement vs. placebo. Conclusions Uninvestigated dyspepsia is associated with high symptom load and impacts on HRQL and work productivity. Esomeprazole improves HRQL among such patients, and improves work productivity among 1-week acid-suppression trial responders. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00251992.

Background: The aim of this study was to develop a shortened Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI). Methods: A short CDAI was developed retrospectively using patient-level data from four budesonide clinical trials to select variables from the full CDAI which best predicted health-related quality of life as measured by the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), using the multiple linear regression model. The validity, reliability, and responsiveness of the short CDAI compared to the original CDAI were determined using data from nine clinical trials of budesonide. Results: The variables selected for the short CDAI were abdominal pain, diarrhea frequency, and general well-being. In all nine studies involving 1373 patients with active and inactive CD (5863 visits), the Pearson correlation coefficients between the short CDAI scores and the original CDAI scores at baseline (r = 0.899, P < 0.001), and the score differences (r = 0.963, P < 0.001) were excellent. The short CDAI accounted for 82.4% of the variance of the original CDAI. The intraclass correlation coefficient for the short CDAI was marginally better than that for the full CDAI, and both demonstrated good reliability (r = 0.600 versus r = 0.549). In patients with active CD who remitted during follow-up, the mean short CDAI scores decreased from 247 to 97, a score difference of 150 ± 60 points (P < 0.001). In patients with stable CD who relapsed, the mean short CDAI scores increased from 109 to 244 points, a score difference of 135 ± 62 points (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The short CDAI is a valid, reliable, and responsive tool for the measurement of CD activity. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2011;)

The Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) is used to judge efficacy in clinical trials. We explored the effect of CDAI response definitions for induction on study efficiency.We analyzed primary CDAI data from induction studies in patients with mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease, not receiving concomitant aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, or immunomodulator therapy, and without fistulizing or stricturing complications. The 12 definitions of clinical response included: CDAI decrease from baseline by 50, 70, 100, or 150 points; decrease by 25% from baseline and by 70 or 100 points; CDAI100 or 150 points; CDAI150 points plus decrease by 70 or 100 points; CDAI150 points at any time sustained for the duration of the trial; or decrease in the CDAI by 70 points for the last two consecutive visits. Response definitions were ranked according to ability to optimize the effect difference between treatment arms. The effect of time, baseline disease activity (CDAI 200-299 oror =300 points), and previous surgical resections on response definitions were evaluated and ranked. Multivariate analysis on additional factors of age (40 oror =40 yr), gender and duration of disease (2 oror =2 yr) were performed to determine predictors of response when applied to these CDAI definitions.Treatment effect differences in placebo-controlled studies were maximized by response definitions that incorporated either a decrease CDAIor =70 points for the last two consecutive visits or decrease in baseline CDAIor =100 points, and remained optimal when evaluated for the composite effect of time, baseline activity, and prior resections. A decrease in baseline CDAIor =100 points had some advantages over a decrease CDAIor =70 points over two visits in terms of study efficiency, as it produced a lower control response rate and was not influenced by any of the baseline factors.Clinical trial efficiency for induction studies in patients with mildly to moderately active Crohn's disease can be improved by using either a decrease in CDAI byor =70 points for the last two consecutive visits or a decrease in baseline CDAI byor =100 points as the primary end point for the trial. These findings are valid for patients with ileocecal Crohn's disease not refractory to aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, and patients who do not have stricturing or penetrating complications. It is unclear if these CDAI response criteria would similarly increase study efficiency in trials that recruited patients with moderately to severely active disease, patients refractory to aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, immunomodulators, and biologics, and patients with stricturing or penetrating complications.

Summary Background While empiric acid-suppressive therapy for uninvestigated dyspepsia patients with symptoms of epigastric pain or burning is standard practice, it is unknown whether an early response to therapy predicts outcome. Aim To evaluate whether a 1-w acid suppression trial is effective for predicting 8-w response in such patients. Methods Helicobacter pylori-negative patients (aged 18–50 years) in primary care with uninvestigated epigastric pain or burning were randomized to esomeprazole 40 mg q.d.s. or b.d. for 1w, followed by esomeprazole 40 mg q.d.s. or placebo for 7w. Each day, patients rated the severity of their symptoms. Results Based on the last 3d, 1-w response rates were 39% (231 of 588) and 43% (258 of 596) with esomeprazole 40 mg q.d.s. and b.d., respectively. Based on the last 7d, response rates at 4w were 38% (283 of 738) and 25% (93 of 380) for esomeprazole and placebo, respectively, and 47% (339 of 716) and 34% (124 of 368), respectively, at 8w (both P

Summary Background Early identification of true responders to acid suppression in functional dyspepsia patients with symptoms of epigastric pain or burning may enable clinicians to optimally tailor treatment. Aim To evaluate whether a 1-w acid suppression trial is useful for identifying true responders in this population. Methods Patients (18–70 years) were randomized to either esomeprazole 40 mg q.d.s., b.d. or placebo for 1w, and then esomeprazole 40 mg q.d.s. or placebo for 7w. Epigastric pain and/or burning were recorded on a 4-point scale (0 = none, 3 = severe). Trial-week response was defined as symptom score sum ≤1 on last 3d of therapy; response at 8w was symptom score sum ≤1 over preceding 7d. Results 1-w response rates were 33% (199 of 597), 29% (188 of 629) and 23% (71 of 315) with esomeprazole q.d.s., esomeprazole b.d. and placebo, respectively (P = 0.002 for esomeprazole groups vs. placebo). At 8w, trial week sensitivity and specificity were 46% and 80%, respectively, for esomeprazole (40 or 80 mg), and 33% and 87%, respectively, for placebo. The positive and negative predictive values for esomeprazole were 60% and 69%. Conclusion Response to a 1-w acid suppression trial is of limited use for predicting symptom response at 8w in patients with unexplained epigastric pain or burning.

To assess the long-term effect on symptoms and quality of life of esomeprazole 20 mg once daily, a recommended dose for maintenance therapy of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).This is a post hoc analysis of 5 year data from patients in the LOTUS trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00251927) who were randomized to esomeprazole 20 mg once daily. All participants had chronic, symptomatic GERD responsive to treatment. Gastrointestinal symptoms were assessed by physicians and by using patient-reported outcome instruments. Investigations included gastrointestinal endoscopy (with biopsy sampling), 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring and laboratory measurements.In total, 157 of 256 patients randomized to esomeprazole 20 mg once daily remained on this dose until the end of follow-up or study discontinuation, whereas 99 patients had their dose increased because of inadequate symptom control (of these, 29 subsequently returned to the allocated dose). On logistic regression, a long objectively defined GERD history, smoking, female sex, absence of Helicobacter pylori infection and high supine baseline acid reflux into the esophagus were associated with an increased likelihood of requiring dose escalation to esomeprazole 40 mg daily (all p 0.05). Symptoms were fairly stable and quality of life was normal throughout follow-up in patients remaining on esomeprazole 20 mg once daily, with no more than mild symptom severity, and mean (standard deviation) percentage time with intraesophageal pH4 was reduced from 10.7 (10.7) pre-randomization to 6.3 (10.2) at 6 months and 4.9 (7.3) at 5 years. The number of serious adverse events was low (0.079 per patient per year).Post hoc analysis with no control group.Esomeprazole at a maintenance dose of 20 mg once daily offers effective long-term treatment for chronic GERD in patients initially responsive to the medication, with durable symptom control and sustained reductions in intraesophageal acid exposure.

Summary Background : Systemic glucocorticosteroid therapy is effective in Crohn's disease, but is associated with side-effects. Budesonide has high topical anti-inflammatory activity, but considerably lower systemic activity than other oral glucocorticosteroids. Aim : To evaluate the systemic exposure to budesonide (controlled ileal release capsules) in children and adults with active Crohn's disease, and to assess the suppression of plasma cortisol. Methods : In an open label study, patients (eight children and six adults) with active Crohn's disease received 9 mg budesonide (Entocort capsules) orally once daily for 7 days. Plasma concentrations were determined on the seventh day of administration, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated. For reference, 0.5 mg budesonide was given intravenously separately. Plasma cortisol levels were compared with the pre-treatment baseline values. Results : Systemic exposure to budesonide (AUC0−24 h) after 1 week of oral administration was 41 ± 21 nmol/L × h (mean ± s.d.) in children and 35 ± 20 nmol/L × h in adults. The estimated systemic availability in children was 9 ± 5% and in adults 11 ± 7%. The mean plasma cortisol (AUC0−24 h) decreased by 64 ± 18% in children and by 50 ± 27% in adults. Conclusions : The systemic exposure, systemic availability and cortisol suppression after oral administration of 9 mg budesonide were similar in children and adults with active Crohn's disease. Budesonide was well tolerated and no clinically important safety-related findings were identified.

Discordance between the degree of osteopenia and the prevalence of spontaneous vertebral fractures in Crohn's disease. Stockbrugger RW, Schoon EJ, Bollani S, Mills PR, Israeli E, Landgraf L, Felsenberg D, Ljunghall S, Nygard G, Persson T, Graffner H, Bianchi Porro G, Ferguson A. Departmen of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands. rw.strockbrugger@intmed.unimaas.nl BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of osteoporosis has been noted in Crohn's disease, but data about fractures are scarce. METHODS: The relationship between low bone mineral density and the prevalence of vertebral fractures was studied in 271 patients with ileo-caecal Crohn's disease in a large European/Israeli study. One hundred and eighty-one currently steroid-free patients with active Crohn's disease (98 completely steroid-naive) and 90 steroid-dependent patients with inactive or quiescent Crohn's disease were investigated by dual X-ray absorptiometry scan of the lumbar spine, a standardized posterior/anterior and lateral X-ray of the thoracic and lumbar spine, and an assessment of potential risk factors for osteoporosis. RESULTS: Thirty-nine asymptomatic fractures were seen in 25 of 179 steroid-free patients (14.0%; 27 wedge, 12 concavity), and 17 fractures were seen in 13 of 89 steroid-dependent patients (14.6%; 14 wedge, three concavity). The prevalence of fractures in steroid-naive patients was 12.4%. The average bone mineral density, expressed as the T-score, of patients with fractures was not significantly different from that of those without fractures (-0.759 vs. -0.837; P=0.73); 55% of patients with fractures had a normal T-score. The bone mineral density was negatively correlated with lifetime steroids, but not with previous bowel resection or current disease activity. The fracture rate was not correlated with the bone mineral density (P=0.73) or lifetime steroid dose (P=0.83); in women, but not in men, the fracture rate was correlated with age (P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The lack of correlation between the prevalence of fractures on the one hand and the bone mineral density and lifetime steroid dose on the other necessitates new hypotheses for the pathogenesis of the former

OBJECTIVES: Budesonide controlled ileal release (CIR) capsules deliver budesonide, a glucocorticosteroid with high topical and low systemic activity, to the distal ileum and the proximal colon. In four previous controlled trials in Crohn's disease, remission rates ranged from 51% to 69%. We sought to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this drug in a population of patients in the United States with Crohn's disease. METHODS: In this multicenter, double blind, randomized trial, 200 patients in the United States with mild to moderate Crohn's disease (Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI] between 200 and 450) involving the distal ileum and/or ascending colon received 9 mg of budesonide CIR once daily, 4.5 mg b.i.d., or placebos for 8 wk. The primary outcome was remission defined by a CDAI of 150 or less. RESULTS: Remission was achieved in 48%, 53%, and 33% with 9 mg once daily, 4.5 mg b.i.d., and placebos, respectively, after 8 wk of treatment. Differences between the groups were not significant. The differences in mean change from baseline CDAI between the combined budesonide and placebo groups was significant (p < 0.05). There was no difference in observed adverse events between treatment groups, although a modest decrease in plasma cortisol levels was observed relative to the placebo (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of symptomatic Crohn's disease with budesonide CIR capsules (9 mg daily) was safe, and remission rates were similar to those achieved in previous trials. Although the remission rate did not significantly differ from the placebo response in this study, there was a significant change in the mean CDAI from baseline in the combined treatment groups relative to the placebo.

Controlled ileal release budesonide and slow release mesalazine are both used to treat mild to moderate active Crohn's disease, although data show that budesonide is more effective in inducing remission. When comparing different treatment options, the effects of agents on health-related quality of life must be considered as well as efficacy. In this study, we sought to compare the effects of budesonide and mesalazine on the health-related quality of life of patients with active Crohn's disease.The study included 182 patients with Crohn's Disease Activity Index scores between 200 and 400. Patients were randomized in a double blind, double dummy, multicenter study to receive 9 mg of budesonide, once daily (n = 93), or 2 g of mesalazine, b.i.d. (n = 89), for 16 wk. Quality of life was assessed at baseline and after 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 wk of treatment using the Psychological General Well-Being index. In addition, a physician's global evaluation was used to assess how symptoms affected patients' normal activities.Patients treated with budesonide experienced significantly greater improvement in Psychological General Well-Being scores than the group treated with mesalazine after 2, 8, 12, and 16 wk. All components of this index showed greater improvements in the budesonide-treated group than in the mesalazine group at 12 and 16 wk. The physician's global evaluation showed significantly greater improvements in the budesonide group than in the mesalazine group at all visits.Budesonide (9 mg once daily) improves health-related quality of life to a greater extent than mesalazine (2 g b.i.d.) in patients with mild to moderate active Crohn's disease.

Our aims were to assess the impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of a controlled ileal release (CIR) formulation of budesonide in active Crohn's disease (CD) and further define the role of HRQOL, using the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ), in assessing outcome in CD. A randomized trial was conducted in 258 patients with active ileal or ileocecal CD. Budesonide CIR 1.5 mg, 4.5 mg, 7.5 mg, or placebo was given b.i.d. for 8 weeks. IBDQ score changes were compared among groups. Correlations for IBDQ and Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) scores were calculated. Mean IBDQ scores improved significantly over placebo by 2 weeks in budesonide 15 mg (155+/-38; p = 0.006) and 9 mg groups (157+/-33; p = 0.0002). Bowel, systemic, social, and emotional subscores were also significantly better (p < 0.002) at 2 and 8 weeks in the 9 mg group. Improved HRQOL scores correlated well with decreased CDAI (-0.8 < r < -0.4). Average per item change in IBDQ at remission was 1.17 to 1.48. Prior surgery (p < 0.005) or current smoker (p < 0.05) status predicted poorer initial HRQOL but not response. Budesonide CIR 9 or 15 mg/day rapidly and significantly improved HRQOL in active CD.

1. Joint pain is a frequent manifestation of Crohn's disease. Budesonide controlled ileal release (CTR) is a predominantly topically acting glucocorticosteroid, which is effective in treating active ileal or ileocaecal Crohn's disease, 2. Therefore, it was of interest to study the effect of this predominantly topically acting therapy on the treatment of an extraintestinal symptom of Crohn's disease by analysing data collected from budesonide CIR (Entocort(R); Astra Draco AB, Lund, Sweden) trials, 3. Three large studies of budesonide CIR treatment in active Crohn's disease provided a reliable source of clinical data, Of the 611 patients treated in the prospective double-blind controlled trials, 291 had joint pain (arthritis/arthralgia) at entry, which was recorded as part of the Crohn's Disease Activity Index. Statistical analysis was based on all patients treated, provided that the patient had joint pain at the start of treatment. 4. Daily oral budesonide CIR (9 mg) resulted in clinical remission of joint pain in 74% (95% confidence intervals (CI) 67-82%) of patients, This outcome was nearly twice as good as placebo (41%; 95% CI 34-57%) and as good as the outcome effected by daily oral prednisolone (40 mg; 72%; 95% CI 60-84%), The favourable response to budesonide CIR (9 mg) did not correlate with glucocorticosteroid-associated side effects or with adrenal suppression, which were half those in the prednisolone (40 mg/day) group. 5. The favourable outcome may relate to restitution of normal intestinal immune function.

Study objective To evaluate the efficacy of oral prednisolone, followed by inhaled budesonide, in patients with newly diagnosed ( Design Double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter study. Setting Twenty pulmonary medicine departments in Finland. Patients One hundred eighty-nine adult patients were randomized to treatment. Patients with erythema nodosum or stage IV sarcoidosis (pulmonary fibrosis), and patients requiring immediate treatment with oral corticosteroids for extrapulmonary lesions or chronic illnesses were excluded. Treatment The patients received either oral prednisolone for 3 months (20 mg/d for 8 weeks, 15 mg/d for 2 weeks, and 10 mg/d for 2 weeks) followed by inhaled budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler; Astra Draco; Lund, Sweden) for 15 months at 800 μg bid, or placebo tablets followed by placebo inhaler therapy. Measurements Chest radiographs, lung volumes (FVC), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (D lco ), serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE), and β 2 -microglobulin at 3-month intervals. Results After 3 months of treatment, radiographic improvements were seen in the active-treatment group when compared to the placebo-treatment group. At 6 months, the difference was still statistically significant. Later, no differences were found. In patients with initial stage I lesions, neither the FVC nor the D lco (the percent predicted mean values) changed during the study, as they were normal from the beginning. In patients with initial stage II disease, the difference in the FVC mean values between the groups also remained unchanged throughout the study. In stage II patients treated for 18 months, but not earlier, the difference in D lco became statistically significant; the largest differences were seen in patients with initial FVC values lco values Conclusion Treatment is not required for patients with stage I disease. An initial treatment with prednisolone followed by long-term inhalation of budesonide is more effective than placebo in patients with stage II disease. Sequential oral and inhaled corticosteroid therapy may be an alternative treatment regimen for stage II sarcoidosis patients, rather than long-term oral corticosteroid therapy alone.

Background & Aims: Prevention of postoperative recurrence after resection for Crohn's disease (CD) would be of great clinical benefit. The efficacy of oral budesonide for prevention of endoscopic recurrence was evaluated in patients undergoing resection for ileal or ileocecal CD. Methods: Sixty-three patients received budesonide and 66 received placebo in a double-blind, randomized trial with parallel groups. Ileocolonoscopy, including biopsy, was performed after 3 and 12 months. Indications for surgery were fibrostenosis (78 patients), disease activity (41), and other reasons (10). Results: The frequency of endoscopic recurrence did not differ between the groups at 3 and 12 months. In patients with disease activity as indication for surgery, the endoscopic recurrence rate at the anastomosis was lower in the budesonide group at 3 months, although not significantly (21% vs. 47%; P = 0.11), and at 12 months (32% vs. 65%; P = 0.047). There was no such difference with respect to fibrostenosis as indication for surgery. No differences in adverse event patterns were found between the two groups. Conclusions: Oral budesonide, 6 mg daily, offered no benefit in prevention of endoscopic recurrence after surgery for ileal/ileocecal fibrostenotic CD but decreased the recurrence rate in patients who had undergone surgery for disease activity. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1999;116:294-300

To analyse the ability of simple clinical and biochemical parameters to predict glucocorticosteroid (GCS) treatment failure in patients with acute attacks of ulcerative colitis.Retrospective analysis of clinical and biochemical data.Four Swedish university hospitals.Ninety seven patients with acute attacks of ulcerative colitis severe enough to warrant treatment with intravenous GCS, hospitalized during the years 1988-93.Colectomy within the first 30 days after hospitalization, defined as 'clinical steroid resistance'.Thirty days after admission, 39 patients (40%) were in complete clinical and endoscopic remission while 33 (34%) had undergone colectomy. During follow-up for 24 months, four patients among the 39 initially in remission underwent colectomy. Among the 25 patients (26%) not attaining remission after 30 days, an additional nine patients subsequently required colectomy. Steroid resistance was associated with duration of disease (2.7 vs 8.1 years, P=0.0037) and steroid treatment before hospitalization (70 vs 42%, P=0.010). In particular, elevation of body temperature (37.4 vs 36.9 degrees C, P=0.012), persistence of diarrhoea (6.8 vs 3.6 bowel movements/day, P0.0001) and passage of blood (83 vs 42%, P=0.0003) as well as CRP elevation (36.3 vs 18.0 mg/l, P=0.007) on day 3 after treatment initiation were identified as predictors of a poor response. CRPor = 25 mg/l and4 bowel movements/day on day 3 of hospitalization independently predicted a high risk for colectomy within 30 days.Sustained elevation of body temperature, persistent bloody diarrhoea and continued CRP elevation on day 3 of intravenous GCS treatment strongly predict clinical steroid resistance in acute attacks of ulcerative colitis. In the group of poor or non-responders, colectomy or more aggressive medical treatment should be considered at an early stage.

Background & Aims: Budesonide is a highly potent topical glucocorticosteroid that is characterized by low systemic availability as a result of high first-pass hepatic metabolism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of three doses of an enema preparation of budesonide in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis/proctitis. Methods: In a double-blind multicenter trial, 233 patients were randomized to receive either a placebo enema or budesonide enema at a dose of 0.5 mg/100 mL, 2.0 mg/100 mL, or 8.0 mg/100 mL. The primary efficacy variables were an improvement of sigmoidoscopic inflammation grade, total histopathology score, and remission rates. Effects on cortisol concentrations were also assessed. Results: After 6 weeks of treatment, there was significant improvement in sigmoidoscopy and histopathology scores in the budesonide 2.0-mg and 8.0-mg dose groups compared with placebo. Remission was achieved in 19% of patients in the 2.0-mg budesonide group (P ≤ 0.050) and 27% of patients in the 8.0-mg budesonide group (P ≤ 0.001) compared with 4% in the placebo group. More than 90% of all budesonide patients had a normal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH)-stimulated cortisol response at the last visit. The budesonide enemas were well tolerated. Conclusions: Budesonide enema is both effective and safe for the treatment of active distal ulcerative colitis/proctitis. A dose of 2.0 mg/100 mL budesonide is the lowest effective dose. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:525-532

Background Crohn's disease is often treated with glucocorticoids or mesalamine. We compared the efficacy and safety of controlled-ileal-release budesonide capsules and slow-release mesalamine tablets in patients with active Crohn's disease affecting the ileum, the ascending colon, or both. Methods In a double-blind, multicenter trial, we enrolled 182 patients with scores of 200 to 400 on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (with higher scores indicating greater disease activity) and randomly assigned 93 to receive 9 mg of budesonide once daily and 89 to receive 2 g of mesalamine twice daily for 16 weeks. The primary efficacy variable was clinical remission, defined as a score of 150 or less on the Crohn's Disease Activity Index. Results In the analysis of all patients who received at least one dose of study drug, the rates of remission after 8 weeks of treatment were 69 percent in the budesonide group and 45 percent in the mesalamine group (P=0.001); the respective rates after 16 weeks of treatment were 62...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Systemic glucocorticosteroids (GCSs) have proven efficacy in active ulcerative colitis but cause undesired systemic side effects. Therefore, new GCSs with high topical activity and a high rate of metabolism may be of clinical value in this condition. The aim of this study was to explore the efficacy and safety of the topically acting GCS budesonide in an oral controlled-release formulation in extensive or left-sided, mild to moderately active ulcerative colitis. METHODS: A 9-week, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was performed, and treatments with 10 mg budesonide or 40 mg prednisolone daily, both gradually tapered, were compared. Endoscopic improvement and effect on endogenous plasma cortisol were assessed. RESULTS: Thirty- four patients were administered budesonide, and 38 patients were administered prednisolone. Mean endoscopic scores improved significantly in both groups but without difference between the groups. Five patients in the budesonide group and 7 patients in the prednisolone group deteriorated and were withdrawn from the study. Morning plasma cortisol levels were suppressed in the prednisolone group (entry, 449 nmol/L; 2 weeks, 116 nmol/L; 4 weeks, 195 nmol/L) but were unchanged in the budesonide group. CONCLUSIONS: The GCS budesonide administered in an oral controlled-release formulation seems to give an overall treatment result in active ulcerative colitis approaching that of prednisolone but without suppression of plasma cortisol levels. This concept merits further evaluation. (Gastroenterology 1996 Jun;110(6):1713-8)

Background/objective To demonstrate therapeutic equivalence of terbutaline via two different Turbuhaler® devices by evaluating its protective effect against methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction in patients with stable asthma. Methods In this double-blind, double-dummy, multicentre, single-dose, 4-way crossover study, patients with stable, mild-to-moderate asthma (FEV1 ≥ 80% predicted normal) were randomised to 0.5 or 1.5 mg terbutaline via either Turbuhaler® M3 or M2 followed by a methacholine challenge test. Primary outcome variable: concentration of methacholine causing a 20% drop in FEV1 (PC20). Patients had to have a PC20 methacholine Results 60 patients were randomised to treatment and completed the study. There was a clear dose–response for both devices. The within-device ratios (1.5 mg: 0.5 mg) were 1.79 and 1.87 for Turbuhaler M3 and M2, respectively (both p Conclusions Bronchoprotection with PC20 as the outcome measure in a standardised methacholine challenge model proved to be a useful design to show therapeutic equivalence between devices in patients with mild to moderate asthma. This model provides robust reproducible data, involves smaller patient numbers with fewer dropouts resulting in reduced costs versus a conventional efficacy study.

Background Patients with active Crohn's disease are often treated with corticosteroids, but the treatment has many side effects. Budesonide is a potent, well-absorbed corticosteroid, but because of a high rate of first-pass metabolism in the liver, its systemic bioavailability is low. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, 10-week trial comparing the efficacy and safety of an oral controlled-release form of budesonide with the efficacy and safety of prednisolone in 176 patients with active ileal or ileocecal Crohn's disease (88 patients in each treatment group). The dose of budesonide was 9 mg per day for eight weeks and then 6 mg per day for two weeks. The dose of prednisolone was 40 mg per day for two weeks, after which it was gradually reduced to 5 mg per day during the last week. Results At 10 weeks, 53 percent of the patients treated with budesonide were in remission (defined as a score ≤ 150 on the Crohn's disease activity index), as compared with 66 percent of those treated with prednisol...

Background Corticosteroids are the most efficacious drugs for inducing remission in active Crohn's disease, but their benefits are frequently offset by serious side effects. Budesonide is a corticosteroid with high topical antiinflammatory activity but low systemic activity because of extensive hepatic metabolism. We investigated the efficacy and safety of an oral controlled-ileal-release preparation of budesonide in patients with active Crohn's disease involving the ileum or ileum and proximal colon. Methods In a double-blind, multicenter trial, 258 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of three doses of budesonide -- 3, 9, or 15 mg daily. The primary outcome measure was clinical remission, as defined by a score of 150 or less on the Crohn's disease activity index. Results After eight weeks of treatment, remission occurred in 51 percent of the patients in the group receiving 9 mg of budesonide (95 percent confidence interval, 39 to 63 percent), 43 percent of those receiving 15 mg (95 ...

Objective: To compare the effect of two glucocorticosteroid enemas, budesonide and prednisolone, on adrenal gland function in patients with active distal ulcerative colitis. Design: A randomized, controlled, investigator-blind study. Setting: A multicentre study among outpatients from three Danish gastroenterology departments participating in a Scandinavian multicentre study. Patients: The study included 26 patients with active distal ulcerative colitis, with a median disease duration of 6.5 years and a median duration of the current disease exacerbation of 26 days. Intervention: Bedtime retention enemas, budesonide (2 mg/100 ml), or prednisolone disodium phosphate (25 mg/100 ml) were administered daily for up to 8 weeks

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often experience symptoms and problems with activities early in the morning. This is the first study to compare the effect of budesonide/formoterol and salmeterol/fluticasone on lung function, symptoms and activities early in the morning. Methods: Lung function (peak expiratory flow [PEF] and forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV 1]) and symptoms were measured at bedside and activities were measured during the morning using a six-item questionnaire concerning basic morning routines. In a randomised, double-blind, multicentre, cross-over study, 442 patients with COPD aged ≥40 years (pre-bronchodilator FEV1 ≤50%; FEV1/vital capacity 1) shortly after rising from bed in the morning, symptoms and basic morning activities were assessed by electronic diary (e-Diary) recordings. Results: Budesonide/formoterol and salmeterol/fluticasone treatment increased morning PEF 5 minutes post-dose, measured as a mean improvement from baseline over the full study period (primary endpoint; adjusted mean change: 15.1 l/min and 14.2 l/min, respectively [difference 1.0 l/min; p = 0.603]). Mean morning FEV1 improved more following budesonide/ formoterol treatment versus salmeterol/fluticasone at 5 minutes (0.12 l versus 0.09 l; p = 0.090) and 15 minutes (0.14 l versus 0.10 l; p < 0.05) post-dose. Budesonide/formoterol demonstrated a more rapid onset of effect as reflected by increases in e-Diary-recorded PEF and FEV 1 from pre-dose to 5 and 15 minutes post-dose (all p < 0.001) and spirometry at the clinic measured after the first dose (FEV1 p < 0.001; 5 minutes post-dose). Improvements in symptom scores within 15 minutes after drug administration were similar for both drugs, but budesonide/formoterol treatment resulted in significantly greater improvements in total morning activities score (getting washed, dried, dressed, eating breakfast and walking around the home; 0.22 versus 0.12 respectively, p < 0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. Conclusions: Short-term treatment with budesonide/formoterol DPI or salmeterol/fluticasone DPI was effective in patients with COPD. Budesonide/formoterol had a more rapid onset of effect compared with salmeterol/fluticasone and resulted in greater improvements in ability to perform morning activities despite the lower inhaled corticosteroid dose.

Background In a 3-year study, adult patients who recently developed asthma (symptoms for less than 1 year) were treated for 2 years with the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) budesonide (early therapy) or terbutaline. During the third year of the study, terbutaline-treated patients received budesonide (delayed therapy). Differences in lung function and bronchial responsiveness to histamine were observed between the 2 groups. Objective We compared the effects of early versus delayed budesonide therapy after a 10-year follow-up period (13 years after the study began) and current real-life data. Methods Of the original 103 patients, 90 were re-examined 13 years after study initiation. After the third year of the study, all patients had their medications, including the dose of ICS, individually adjusted. Results After the follow-up period, lung function was within the normal range for the entire group (all patients); bronchial responsiveness significantly improved compared with baseline data. No statistically significant differences in clinical or functional variables were found between patients given early or delayed budesonide therapy. However, the delayed therapy group had a higher neutrophil count and higher concentrations of eosinophilic cationic protein and myeloperoxidase in induced sputum. This group had also used more asthma medication and hospital days. Conclusions Patients with relatively mild asthma who received ICS within 12 months of their first asthma symptoms or after a 2-year delay achieved equally good functional control of asthma after 10 years of individualized therapy. However, the delayed therapy group exhibited slightly less optimal disease control and more signs of airway inflammation.

BACKGROUND AZD9056 is a selective orally active inhibitor of the purinergic receptor P2X7, which is a key player in the generation and secretion of several proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this phase IIa study was to assess the efficacy and safety of AZD9056 for the treatment of moderately to severely active CD. METHODS We conducted a placebo-controlled, multicenter, double-blind phase IIa study in patients with moderately to severely active CD as defined by a CD Activity Index (CDAI) of at least 220. Patients were randomized in a 2:1 mode either to 200 mg of AZD9056 administered orally as a tablet once daily for 28 days or matching placebo. Primary endpoint was the change in CDAI from baseline at day 28, and secondary endpoints included clinical remission (CDAI < 150) and CDAI 70 response and improvement in the quality of life measures Short Form 36 and Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire. Changes in serum C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin were assessed. RESULTS In total, 34 patients were enrolled, 24 to AZD9056 and 10 to placebo. The CDAI dropped in AZD9056-treated subjects from a baseline mean of 311 to 242 and from 262 to 239 in placebo-treated subjects (P = 0.049). Remission and response rates were numerically higher with AZD9056 versus placebo, (n = 5, 24% versus n = 1, 11%, P = 0.43 and n = 11, 52% versus n = 2, 22%, P = 0.13, respectively). Marked decrease in disease activity was observed for the CDAI subcomponents, pain and general well-being. Apart from a statistically significant improvement in the Mental Component Score of Short Form 36 for AZD9056 versus placebo (P = 0.017), no other differences in measurements of quality of life could be observed. There was no decrease in concentrations of serum C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin during treatment. AZD9056 was well-tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that the purinergic receptor P2X7 antagonist AZD9056 has the potential to improve symptoms in patients with moderate-to-severe CD combined with a beneficial risk profile. Although the lack in change of inflammatory biomarkers questions its anti-inflammatory potential, the results obtained in this study rather suggest P2X7 antagonism for the treatment of chronic abdominal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effect of low-dose systemic glucocorticoid treatment on the adrenal response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Patients with RA who took part in a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of budesonide (3 mg/day and 9 mg/day) and prednisolone (7.5 mg/day) underwent a short (60-minute) test with injection of ACTH (tetracosactide hexaacetate) at baseline and the day after completing the 3-month treatment program. Plasma cortisol measurements at baseline and 3 months were compared within and between the treatment groups. Individual patients were classified as normal responders to ACTH or as abnormal responders if changes were >2 SD below the pretreatment value in the entire group of study patients. RESULTS: Short tests with ACTH injection were performed on 139 patients before beginning the study medication and on 134 patients after cessation of the medication. There were no changes in the placebo group. Mean plasma cortisol levels following treatment were reduced in all active treatment groups. In addition, mean values were significantly reduced for the 30-minute and 60-minute responses to ACTH. The maximum reduction (35%) occurred in the prednisolone group at 60 minutes. Following treatment, 34% of patients taking budesonide 9 mg and 46% of those taking prednisolone 7.5 mg failed to reach the normal maximum cortisol response to ACTH. Four patients failed to achieve the normal percentage increase in cortisol levels, but only 1 patient failed to meet both criteria. CONCLUSION: Low doses of a glucocorticoid resulted in depression of baseline and ACTH-stimulated cortisol levels after 12 weeks of therapy. Although the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in individual patients generally remained within the normal range, these changes should be investigated further.

Objectives: There is limited evidence on the preferred methods for evaluating lung function in infancy. The objective of this study was to compare sensitivity and repeatability of indexes of lung function in young infants during induced airway obstruction. Methods: The study population consisted of 402 infants (median age, 6 weeks). Forced flow-volume measurements were obtained by the raised volume rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique and were compared with indexes of tidal breathing, measurements of transcutaneous oxygen (Ptc o 2 ), and auscultation during methacholine challenge testing. Results: Ptc o 2 was the most sensitive parameter to detect increasing airway obstruction during methacholine challenge, followed by forced expiratory volume at 0.5 s (FEV 0.5 ). Both were superior to other indexes of forced spirometry as well as tidal breathing indexes and auscultation. Coefficients of variations for Ptc o 2 and FEV 0.5 were 4% and 7%, respectively. Conclusions: Ptc o 2 and FEV 0.5 are the most sensitive parameters for measurement of bronchial responsiveness in young infants. Measurements of baseline lung function should preferably be made using FEV 0.5. Measurements of bronchial responsiveness are best assessed using Ptc o 2 , which may be performed in nonsedated infants and improve feasibility of future studies on lung function in infancy.

Summary Aim : To assess the efficacy and safety of budesonide capsules 6 mg daily for prolongation of time to relapse and maintenance of remission in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) affecting the ileum and/or ascending colon. Methods : In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial, 110 patients with CD, who had previously achieved remission in a placebo-controlled trial of budesonide 9 mg daily, were randomly assigned to receive budesonide 6 mg once daily or placebo for 52 weeks. Primary outcome measure was time to relapse [CD activity index (CDAI) of >150 plus an increase of at least 60 points from study entry or withdrawal due to clinical deterioration]. Results : Median time to relapse was 360 days for budesonide patients; 169 days for placebo patients (P = 0.132). No significant differences were seen between groups in relapse rates at 1 year. Budesonide was safe and well tolerated, with a similar adverse events profile to placebo. Conclusion : Patients treated with budesonide 6 mg once daily had a trend towards a prolonged time to relapse and lower CDAI scores compared with patients treated with placebo, but relapse rates were not significantly different at the 1-year end point.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Osteoporosis frequently occurs in Crohn's disease, often because of corticosteroids. Budesonide as controlled release capsules is a locally acting corticosteroid with low systemic bioavailability. We investigated its effects on bone compared with prednisolone. METHODS: In 34 international centers, 272 patients with Crohn's disease involving ileum and/or colon ascendens were randomized to once daily treatment with budesonide or prednisolone for 2 years at doses adapted to disease activity. One hundred eighty-one corticosteroid-free patients had active disease (98 had never received corticosteroids, corticosteroid naive; 83 had received corticosteroids previously, corticosteroid exposed), and 90 had quiescent disease, receiving long-term low doses of corticosteroids, corticosteroid-dependent; in 1 patient, no efficacy data were obtained. Bone mineral density and fractures were assessed in a double-blinded fashion; disease activity, side effects, and quality of life were monitored. RESULTS: Neither the corticosteroid-free nor the corticosteroid-dependent patients treated with budesonide differed significantly in bone mineral density from those receiving prednisolone. However, corticosteroid-naive patients receiving budesonide had smaller reductions in bone mineral density than those on prednisolone (mean, -1.04% vs -3.84%; P = .0084). Treatment-emergent corticosteroid side effects were less frequent with budesonide. Efficacy was similar in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with budesonide is associated with better preserved bone mass compared with prednisolone in only the corticosteroid-naive patients with active ileocecal Crohn's disease. In both the corticosteroid-free and corticosteroid-dependent groups, budesonide and prednisolone were equally effective for up to 2 years, but budesonide caused fewer corticosteroid side effects.

To evaluate the 5-year prognosis of patients with stage I and stage II newly detected (3 months) pulmonary sarcoidosis treated immediately after diagnosis with prednisolone for 3 months followed by inhaled budesonide for 15 months.Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study for 18 months. Thereafter, open follow-up without treatment.Twenty pulmonary medicine departments in Finland.One hundred eighty-nine adult patients, most of them with normal lung function, were randomized to treatment. One hundred forty-nine patients were followed up for 5 years: 79 patients with initial stage I disease and 70 patients with stage II disease.Oral prednisolone for 3 months followed by inhaled budesonide for 15 months (800 microg bid), or placebo tablets followed by placebo inhaler therapy. Thereafter, treatment only on an individual basis in the case of clinical deterioration.Yearly follow-up visits with chest radiographs, lung function tests (FEV(1), FVC), diffusion capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), serum angiotensin-converting enzyme (SACE), and serum and urinary calcium measurements.No initial differences were observed in chest radiographic findings between the active-treatment and placebo-treatment groups, either in patients with initial stage I or stage II(-III) disease. However, after the 5-year follow-up, 18 steroid-treated patients (26%) and 30 placebo-treated patients (38%) still had remaining chest radiographic changes. Placebo-treated patients more frequently required treatment with corticosteroids during the 5-year follow-up (p0.05). Steroid-treated patients with initial stage II(-III) disease improved more in FVC and DLCO (p0.05). No differences in reported adverse events or in SACE, serum calcium, or urinary calcium values were seen.Immediate treatment of pulmonary stage II(-III) sarcoidosis-but not stage I disease-improved the 5-year prognosis with regard to lung function variables.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the topical corticosteroid budesonide, given in an oral controlled release formulation for maintenance of remission in patients with ileal and ileocaecal Crohn's disease (CD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of 176 patients with active CD who had achieved remission (CD activity index score < or = 150) after 10 weeks' treatment with either budesonide or prednisolone, 90 were randomised to continue with once daily treatment of 6 mg budesonide, or 3 mg budesonide or placebo for up to 12 months in a double blind, multicentre trial. Time to symptomatic relapse was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Morning plasma cortisol was measured at clinic visits and a corticotropin stimulation test was performed after three months of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty two patients were allocated to the 6 mg budesonide group, 31 to the 3 mg group, and 27 to the placebo group. After three months, 19 per cent of the patients in the 6 mg group had relapsed, compared with 45 per cent in the 3 mg group and 44 per cent in the placebo group (p = 0.047). The corresponding results after 12 months was 59 per cent in the 6 mg budesonide group, 74 per cent in the 3 mg group, and 63 per cent in the placebo group (p = 0.44). The median time to relapse or discontinuation was 258 days in the 6 mg group, 139 days in the 3 mg group, and 92 days in the placebo group (p = 0.021). Mean morning plasma cortisol values increased from entry in all three groups with no statistically significant differences at 12 months. All 13 patients remaining in the placebo group after three months had a normal corticotropin stimulation response, compared with 18 of 23 patients in the 6 mg, and 19 of 21 in the 3 mg budesonide groups (p = 0.14). Acne and moon face were slightly more common in the budesonide groups. CONCLUSION: 6 mg budesonide once daily is significantly more efficacious than placebo in prolonging time to relapse in CD, and causes only minor systemic side effects.

SUMMARY Background: The aim was to compare budesonide enema, 2 mg/100 mL (Entocort) and hydrocortisone acetate foam enema, 125 mg (Colifoam) in patients with active haemorrhagic proctitis. Methods: The trial was a controlled, randomized, investigator-blind study with two parallel groups. Endoscopy, histology and diary cards were used to assessed the response to therapy. Safety was assessed by laboratory tests and adverse event recording. Results: Seventy-two patients were included. Investigations were made before treatment and after 2 and 4 weeks. Both treatment groups showed statistically significant improvement in endoscopic scores but significant differences between the groups were not found. In the hydrocortisone group, plasma cortisol was significantly lowered after 4 weeks compared with budesonide. Bowel habits and quality of life variables did not differ between the treatments. The recorded adverse events were mild or moderate and may have been due to the proctitis. Conclusions: These results suggest that budesonide enema is as effective as hydrocortisone foam enema, but without the potential for side-effects associated with suppression of plasma cortisol.

In a previous study, we found that two years of treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, was more effective than treatment with an inhaled beta 2-agonist, terbutaline, in patients with newly diagnosed, generally mild asthma. We continued this study for a third year to investigate whether the steroid dose could be reduced or discontinued and what effect crossover of patients from beta 2-agonist therapy to corticosteroid therapy would have.A total of 37 patients treated for two years with inhaled budesonide at a dose of 1200 micrograms per day were randomly assigned to treatment with 400 micrograms of budesonide per day (19 patients) or placebo (18 patients) in a double-blind manner. Another 37 patients, who had received terbutaline during the first two years, were crossed over in an open-label manner to treatment with 1200 micrograms of budesonide per day during the third year.Treatment with the reduced dose of budesonide was sufficiently effective in 74 percent of the patients to maintain bronchial responsiveness at a level similar to that achieved with the higher dose. In contrast, improvement was maintained in only 33 percent of the patients receiving placebo, and the differences in pulmonary function between the steroid and placebo groups were significant (for forced expiratory volume in one second, P = 0.007; for bronchial responsiveness to histamine, P = 0.025; and for peak expiratory flow in the morning, P = 0.040). The condition of patients who were crossed over from terbutaline therapy to treatment with 1200 micrograms of budesonide per day improved. However, the degree of improvement in these patients appeared to be less than in those who were treated with budesonide at the beginning of the three-year study.Early treatment with inhaled budesonide results in long-lasting control of mild asthma. Maintenance therapy can usually be given at a reduced dose, but discontinuation of treatment is often accompanied by exacerbation of the disease.

The presence of airway inflammation even in mild asthma points to the potential value of antiinflammatory therapy. We compared the effect of an inhaled corticosteroid, budesonide, with that of an inhaled beta 2-agonist, terbutaline, in the long-term treatment of newly detected asthma.We studied 103 patients (29 male and 74 female patients 15 to 64 years old) in whom asthma had appeared within the previous year. The patients were randomly assigned in blinded fashion to two treatment groups: one to receive 600 micrograms of inhaled budesonide twice a day, and the other to receive 375 micrograms of inhaled terbutaline twice a day. The study period was two years.After six weeks of treatment, the patients treated with budesonide tolerated inhaled histamine better than the patients treated with terbutaline (a difference of one doubling dose step, P less than 0.001), and the difference was sustained. Patients' diaries kept during the first three months of the study and during the last month of the first and second years showed budesonide to be more effective than terbutaline in improving peak expiratory flow in the morning (average increase from the pretreatment value, 32.8 liters per minute for budesonide vs. 4.8 liters per minute for terbutaline; P less than 0.001) and in the evening (P less than 0.01). Budesonide was also more effective in reducing the symptoms of asthma (P less than 0.01) and the use of supplemental beta 2-agonist medication (P less than 0.01). Ten patients were withdrawn from the terbutaline group because treatment was insufficiently effective, whereas only one dropped out of the budesonide group. The adverse reactions to both treatments were few and mild.Antiinflammatory therapy with inhaled budesonide is an effective first-line treatment for patients with newly detected, mild asthma, and it is superior to the use of terbutaline in such patients.

2-Year maintenance treatment of ileocecal Crohn's disease with budesonide capsules or prednisolone: which patients are eligible?