Pilot study: The effect of reducing treatment on exercise induced bronchoconstriction

Rationale Asthma therapy should be stepped up or stepped down in response to changes in asthma control. However, there is little evidence available on the optimal timing, sequence, and degree of medication reductions. In this study we analyzed clinically stable asthmatic children who underwent a medication reduction from a combination preparation consisting of an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) and long acting beta2‐agonist (LABA) to monotherapy with the same dose of the ICS. We hypothesized that the extent of exercise‐induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) would not increase after the cessation of the LABA. Methods Nineteen children, aged 8–16 years, with clinically stable asthma, receiving LABA/ICS combination therapy, were analyzed in this open‐label pilot study. Children performed an exercise challenge at baseline and 3 weeks after the medication reduction. Best values of spirometric measurements of the forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1) were used for statistical calculations. Results Maximum percent fall in FEV1 was significantly lower after 3 weeks of ICS monotherapy (P = 0.03). Eight of 19 children had a ≥15% fall in FEV1 after exercise at the initial exercise challenge. In this subgroup, maximum percent fall in FEV1 after the medication reduction was significantly lower (P