COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE WITH BUDESONIDE AND BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE IN MILD PERSISTENT BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Objective: To compare the efficacy and adverse effects of fluticasone propionate with that of budesonide and beclomethasone dipropionate in mild persistent cases of bronchial asthma. Methods: This was an open label, randomized parallel group study done in Government General and Chest Hospital, Hyderabad for a period of 12 weeks. Each group had 20 patients. The group I was given fluticasone propionate inhalation therapy 100μg twice daily. Group II was given budesonide inhalation therapy 200μg twice daily. Group III was given beclomethasone dipropionate inhalation therapy 200μg twice daily. Results: Symptomatic improvement was observed in all three groups. At end point, mean FEV1 in fluticasone propionate treatment group improved by 22.04% compared with 14.53% in budesonide and 12.02% in beclomethasone treatment groups. At end point, mean FVC value of the fluticasone propionate treatment group improved by 8.04% compared with 5.29% in budesonide and 4.27% in beclomethasone groups. Mean FEV1 / FVC also improved by 12.76% in the fluticasone propionate group compared with 8.63 % in budesonide and 7.45 % in beclomethasone groups. No adverse effects were reported in any of the treatment groups. Conclusion: This study showed that fluticasone propionate is superior to budesonide and beclomethasone in improving lung function, decreasing symptoms and need for rescue medication in mild persistent asthma