A Long-term Study of the Antiinflammatory Effect of Low-dose Budesonide Plus Formoterol versus High-dose Budesonide in Asthma

Adding inhaled long-acting beta(2)-agonists to a low dose of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), results in better clinical asthma control than increasing the dose of ICS. However, this approach may mask underlying airway inflammation. In a double-blind parallel-group study, we evaluated the effect of adding formoterol to a low dose of budesonide, compared with a higher dose of budesonide, on the composition of induced sputum. After a 4-wk run-in …