RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Comparison of the efficacy of cicleosonide with budesonide in mild to moderate asthma patients after step-down therapy JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p3965 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Kuo-Chin Chiu A1 Jeng-Yuan Hsu A1 Ming-Shian Lin A1 Wen-Te Liu A1 Chun-Hua Wang A1 Han-Pin Kuo YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p3965.abstract AB Inhaled corticosteroids are the most widely used controller treatment for asthma, and is the stepping down level when asthma is controlled with combination therapy. Ciclesonide is an inhaled corticosteroid with on-site lung activation that provides anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of ciclesonide (CIC) with budesonide (BUD) in 142 adult patients with mild to moderate asthma who were well-controlled with a combination of inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting b2-agonist. They were randomized to receive once-daily ciclesonide 320mg (n=73) or twice-daily 2 inhalations of budesonide 200 mg (n=69) for 12 weeks. The forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), maximum midexpiratory flow (MMEF) and asthma control test (ACT) score were evaluated. Tolerability and ranked stratification of patient and physician were assessed. At the end of study, the withdrawal rate of CIC group (26.4%) was significantly less than that of BUD group (42.7%, p=0.02). There was no difference of FEV1 and MMEF throughout 12-week treatment period in CIC group. In BUD group, FEV1 decreased significantly at 4-week (1.8±0.1 L, n=59, p=0.0006) and 12-week of treatment (1.9±0.1 L, n=39, p=0.01) compared with baseline (2.0±0.1 L, n=69). MMEF decreased significantly at 4-, 8- and 12-week compared to baseline in BUD group. ACT score decreased significantly at 4-week of treatment in BUD group compared with baseline,. There was no difference of ACT score over the 12-week period in CIC group. In conclusion, cicleosonide was more effective and better drug adherence than budesonide in the stepping-down treatment of asthma from combination therapy.