The aim of this study was to determine whether outcomes in poorly controlled asthma can be further improved with a starting dose of inhaled budesonide higher than that recommended in international guidelines.The study had a parallel-group design and included 61 subjects with poorly controlled asthma, randomized to receive 3,200 mg or 1,600 mg budesonide daily by Turbuhaler1 for 8 weeks (double-blind), then 1,600 mg . day -1 for 8 weeks (single-blind), followed by 14 months of open-label budesonide dose down-titration using a novel algorithm, with a written asthma crisis plan based on electronic peak expiratory flow monitoring. The primary outcome variable for weeks 1±16 was change in airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), and, for the open-label phase, mean daily budesonide dose.By week 16, there were large changes from baseline in all outcomes, with no significant differences between the 3,200-and 1,600-mg . day -1 starting dose groups (AHR increased by 3.2 versus 3.0 doubling doses, p=0.7; morning peak flow increased by 134 versus 127 L . min -1 , p=0.8). Subjects starting with 3,200 mg . day -1 were 3.8 times more likely to achieve AHR within the normal range, as defined by a provocative dose of histamine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (PD20) of $3.92 mmol by week 16 (p=0.03). During dose titration, there was no significant difference in mean budesonide dose (1,327 versus 1,325 mg . day -1 , p>0.3). Optimal asthma control was achieved in the majority of subjects (at completion/withdrawal: median symptoms 0.0 days . week -1 , b 2 -agonist use 0.2 occasions . day -1 , and PD20 2.4 mmol).In subjects with poorly controlled asthma, a starting dose of 1,600 mg . day -1 budesonide was sufficient to lead to optimal control in most subjects. The high degree of control achieved, compared with previous studies, warrants further investigation. Eur Respir J 2000; 15: 226±235.
