[Budesonide (Pulmicort) and exertion-induced asthma].

: Twelve young adult asthmatic patients were selected in an asthma-free interval to be tested for exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. The degree of bronchoconstriction was estimated indirectly by spirometry, using FEV1 as parameter. Exercise was performed on a 10% steep treadmill for six minutes, leading to a pulse rate of more than 180 beats/min. Spirometry was done before, immediately after, and 10 and 20 min after the work. Only patients with more than a 10% fall in FEV1 during the 20 min period of recovery were selected. In the randomized crossover double blind trial the asthmatic patients received placebo inhalations for one week and budesonide inhalations for another week (2 X 800 micrograms daily). Spirometry was repeated at the end of each week. Under placebo we found a surprisingly high rate of protection against exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (50%, p less than 0.05). With budesonide 8% additional protection (compared to placebo) was achieved (mean of all 12 patients). The patient-drug-interaction was significant at the level of F = 30, p less than 0.05. There are some nonresponders to budesonide. Of the 12 asthmatics, 8 recognized the drug inhalation period. We conclude that one week of high dosage budesonide regimen recudes the tendency to exercise-induced asthma in adults. Budesonide seems to influence and mitigate bronchial hyperreactivity in the responder group.