Effect of Inhaled Triamcinolone on the Decline in Pulmonary Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Published in: The New England journal of medicine Vol. 343; no. 26; pp. 1902 - 1909
• Main Authors: Wise, Robert, Connett, John, Weinmann, Gail, Scanlon, Paul, Skeans, Melissa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston, MA Massachusetts Medical Society 28-12-2000
• Subjects: Administration, Inhalation; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Density - drug effects; Bronchial Hyperreactivity - drug therapy; Candidiasis, Oral - chemically induced; Clinical trials; Disease; Disease Progression; Dyspnea - drug therapy; Female; Forced Expiratory Volume - drug effects; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Glucocorticoids - adverse effects; Health Services - statistics & numerical data; Health Services - utilization; Hospitalization - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - drug therapy; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - mortality; Lung Diseases, Obstructive - physiopathology; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Respiratory system; Triamcinolone - administration & dosage; Triamcinolone - adverse effects; Human; Lung disease; Corticosteroid; Demineralization; Respiratory disease; Toxicity; Antiinflammatory agent; Controlled therapeutic trial; Inhalation; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Bronchus disease; Complication; Obstructive pulmonary disease; Bone; Triamcinolone
• ISSN: 0028-4793; 1533-4406
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJM200012283432601

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States.
1
COPD results mainly from cigarette smoking by susceptible persons and develops over years, with a progressive decline in lung function. Smoking cessation is the only intervention that effectively slows the decline in pulmonary function, but only 20 to 40 percent of patients succeed in quitting smoking.
2
Because airway inflammation is thought to cause COPD, it has been hypothesized that antiinflammatory agents might slow progression of the disease.
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In persons with asthma, inhaled corticosteroids reduce airway inflammation, improve lung function, and reduce airway reactivity. . . .