Respiratory mechanics during daily and alternate day corticosteroid therapy in asthma.

Changes in lung mechanics were measured in asthmatic adults before and after a 10-day course of daily and a three-week course of alternate day adrenocortical steroid therapy. All patients improved after the 10 days of therapy. This response continued during the a.m. measurements on the alternate day regimen with further improvement through the afternoon of the treatment day. In the afternoon of the day off corticosteroid therapy there was a deterioration in flow rates.