Rapid Effect of Inhaled Ciclesonide in Asthma A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Study

Ciclesonide is a novel inhaled corticosteroid for the treatment of asthma, and it is important to measure the onset of effect of this therapy on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), exhaled nitric oxide (NO), and levels of eosinophils in induced sputum. Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 21 patients with mild asthma inhaled ciclesonide 320 mu g (ex-actuator)qd, ciclesonide 640 mu g (ex-actuator) bid, and placebo for 7 days. Exhaled NO and AHR to adenosine monophosphate (AMP), measured as the provocative concentration of AMP producing a 20% reduction in FEV1 (PC20FEV1), were assessed after inhalation on days 1, 3 and 7. Eosinonphil levels in induced sputum were also measured. Results: Ciclesonide 320 mu g qd and 640 mu g bid produced significantly greated improvements in PC20FEV1 compared with placebo on day 1 (within 2.5 h), and on days 3 and 7 (all p < 0.0001). On day 3, both ciclesonide doses significantly reduced exhaled NO levels by - 17.7 parts per billion (p < 0.0001) and -15.4 parts per billion (p , 0.003) vs placebo, respectively. Significant reductions were maintained during the study with both ciclesonide doses (p < 0.01). A nonsignifacant trend towards a decrease in eosinophil cell numbers was observed after 7 days of ciclesonide treatment, especially in patients receiving the higher dose. Conclusions: A single dose of ciclesonide decreased AHR to AMP and exhaled NO within 3 h, while FEV, improved at 3 days and 7 days. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Study ID Number BY9010/MI-125. (CHEST 2008; 134:740-745)