Via practica 2/2006

CURRENT TRENDS IN THE THERAPY OF BRONCHIAL ASTHMA

Bronchial asthma is chronic inflammatory disorder of lower airways significantly interfering with quality of life. Modern pharmacotherapy and complex management enable full-value life for most sufferers. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are and for a long time will be keystone of asthma treatment, but combined anti-asthma therapy (especially combination of ICS and long-acting beta adrenergics) is used more and more widely. In particular case leukotriene antagonists alone or they combination with ICS may be the treatment of first choice. Methylxantines are used as supplementary drugs of second choice. In cases of severe asthma with frequent exacerbations, resistant on mentioned drugs, anti-IgE therapy is indicated. Antihistamines assert influence by allergic asthma, in case with known allergen specific immunotherapy may be used.

Keywords: asthma, pharmacotherapy, management.