1 Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy-Immunology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles
Systemic corticosteroids were introduced in the 1950s for the treatment of asthma. Usually, excellent results were obtained although a number of side effects became apparent. Prolonged use of corticosteroid therapy for asthma remains quite controversial, and it is often regarded as an inappropriate treatment modality. Inasmuch as complications from corticosteroids are largely dependent on dose and duration of therapy, it was reasoned that by topically administering the corticosteroids, the amount of drug necessary to control symptoms would be reduced and, in turn, lessen the number of adverse effects. Initially developed corticosteroid aerosols produced variable effectiveness with associated systemic side effects.1