Recovery of adrenal function after substitution of beclomethasone dipropionate for oral corticosteroids.

Of 16 steroid-dependent asthmatic patients oral treatment has been discontinued in six and reduced in four after the introduction of beclomethasone dipropionate. Substitution of inhaled beclomethasone for oral steroids was unsuccessful in the remaining six patients. Serial adrenal function studies in the patients whose oral treatment was discontinued showed progressive recovery, and five out of six had a normal response to tetracosactrin stimulation after two months.