Beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol in reversible obstructive airways disease. A clinical evaluation of one year's treatment.

Seven patients with reversible obstructive airways disease, who were unsatisfactorily relieved by conventional bronchodilating drugs, were admitted to a 1-year-long therapeutic trial with beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol, 400 mug a day. After 3 weeks of treatment the mean values of VC, FEV, and PEFR were increased by about 100 per cent of the pretreatmetn values, and the consumption of self-administered bronchodilators was markedly diminished. Throughout the trial the occupationa diability and need for hospitalization were negligible compared with the previous year. Development of tolerance to the drug was not observed during the trial. The adrenocortical function remained unaffected, as judged by the plasma cortisol levels and adrenocortical stimulation tests. Continuously low normal levels of excreted urinary 17-ketogenic-steroids might indicate a very slight adrenal suppression.