Pharmacy News Article

2009 MAR 18 - (NewsRx.com) "Inhaled corticosteroids are used widely to treat asthma (see also Asthma). A number of different steroids and inhalation devices are available," investigators in the United States report.

"The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the different inhaled corticosteroids may influence their efficacy and safety profiles. Properties of an ideal inhaled corticosteroid include low oropharyngeal deposition, low oral bioavailability. high lung deposition, long pulmonary residence times, high receptor affinity, high plasma protein binding. and efficient systemic clearance," wrote J. Padden and colleagues, Duquesne University.

The researchers concluded: "Attention to these parameters might help clinicians optimally balance between the safety and efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in treating individual patients with asthma."

Padden and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Asthma (Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Inhaled Glucocorticoids. Journal of Asthma, 2008;45(10 Suppl.):13-24).

For additional information, contact J. Padden, Duquesne University, Mylan School Pharmacy, Bayer Learning Center 321, 600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282, USA.

The publisher of the Journal of Asthma can be contacted at: Taylor & Francis Inc., 325 Chestnut St., Suite 800, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.