Oral Corticosteroid Use in Exacerbations of Asthma

Exacerbations of asthma are treated with oral corticosteroid medications which are associated with various adverse effects that impact negatively on patient adherence. Historically oral corticosteroid use has been associated with weight gain, increased appetite and dietary intake, though new evidence suggests that these effects are not associated with short term use. Impaired response to oral corticosteroids is also an issue in some patients due to steroid resistance. A new study suggests that inflammometry can be used to guide patient selection for oral corticosteroid therapy to improve responses. While oral corticosteroids remain the mainstay of treating asthma exacerbations, clinicians should give consideration to using inflammometry for patient selection and providing guidance on the likelihood and management of adverse effects.