Aerosol beclomethasone treatment of chronic severe asthma. A one-year experience.

After one year's use of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol, 43 of 61 asthmatic patients who were originally dependent on oral corticosteroids were able to reduce and 38 to completely eliminate use of oral corticosteroids. Most patients maintained or improved their pulmonary functions. Exacerbation of rhinitis during oral corticosteroid withdrawal and emergence of nasal polyps were problems for 25 patients. Exacerbation of asthma with upper respiratory infection was an important event: 21 patients required supplemental oral corticosteroids to control asthma. Oral candidiasis occurred in only three patients.