Background. Recent investigations revealed that in patients with bronchial asthma the same anti-inflammatory effect is achieved by inhalation of half the dose of budesonide by a Turbuhaler (i.e. by using corticosteroid in powder form) as by a full dose of beclomethasone driven into the lungs by compressed chlorofluorocarbons (i.e. MDI = pressure dosage inhalator). The objective was to assess whether there is a difference between 12-week treatment with budesonide Turbuhaler in a smaller dose of 400 mg/day and treatment with beclomethasone dipropionate MDI 800 mg/day. Methods and Results. After an initial two-week period of the 227 patients with mild or medium severe asthma who had not taken corticosteroids for three months, into the budesonide Turbuhaler group 94 patients were included and into the beclomethasone MDI group 99 patients. Characteristics: group treated with budesonide (46 men, 48 women, mean age 38 years, FEV 1 78 % of appropriate values). Group treated with beclomethasone (51 men, 48 women, mean age 39 years, FEV 1 81.5 % of appropriate values). Morning and evening values of the peak expiration rate (PEF) increased significantly after budesonide treatment 2x 200 mg/day) as compared with beclomethasone treatment (2x 400 mg/day). Differences of morning PEF between budesonide and beclomethasone: 47 : 28 l/min, p < 0.05, differences of evening PEF: 32 : 10 l/min., p < 0.027. The number of dyspnoic attacks declined after both types of treatment, as well as the amount of inhaled bronchodilatating substances (terbutalin Turbuhaler). The differences between drugs were however not statistically significant. Conclusions. Budesonide Turbuhaler, 400 mg/day when administered to patients with bronchial asthma was at least as effective as beclomethasone MDI, 800 mg/day. The increase of morning and evening PEF values was after budesonide significantly higher than after beclomethasone.

        Key words: bronchial asthma, budesonide Turbuhaler, Beclomethasone MDI