Inhaled Glucocorticoids for Asthma

Glucocorticoids are the most effective therapy available for patients with asthma. They may be administered either orally or, much more safely, by inhalation. With the recognition that airway inflammation is present even in patients with mild asthma, therapy with inhaled glucocorticoids is now recommended at a much earlier stage.1 However, despite their proved efficacy in the treatment of asthma, enthusiasm for their use has been tempered by concern about systemic side effects. Because of this concern, less effective therapies are often preferred, particularly for children.Mechanism of ActionMolecular MechanismsInhaled glucocorticoids are highly lipophilic. They rapidly enter airway cells, . . .