Publication: Recent trends and directions in the rationalization of pharmacotherapy of bronchial asthma: Probing for alternatives
Date
2006
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
Although tremendous progress has been made in the understanding of Bronchial Asthma (BA) over the past decade,
asthma remains a frequently encountered challenging condition for the physicians in the health care locale.
Inflammation is distinguished as the most important event in the pathogenesis and the knowledge that asthma is an
inflammatory disorder has become elementary to our explanation of asthma; this has broadened the perspective for
the treatment of BA. However, bronchodilators and corticosteroids are still the mainstay of asthma treatment over
the decades. The introduction of superior derivatives of corticosteroids and beta agonists, the choice, safety, duration
of action and ease of delivery have enhanced progressively. Surrogated anti - inflammatory agents have been used in
severe disease, but have been limited by adverse effects. The introduction of new agents affecting leukotrienes
synthesis and action provides an alternative strategy but it needs to be confirmed on a large subset of population of
asthmatics. In fact, the past decade has been witnessed by a proliferation of scientific information and a widespread
addition of anti-inflammatory therapy to improve asthma outcomes along with the recommended therapies. In this
context, there has been much advancement in the available pharmacologic panorama for both chronic and acute
therapy and the development and approval of novel medications. Yet, many controversies abound this disorder, and
further fundamental developments in novel therapeutics are imminent.
This review of asthma for the practicing clinician will summarize these developments and their implications in
treatment of BA
Key words: Bronchial Asthma (BA), Pharmacotherapy, Review, Novel Drugs
Description
Das BP 1 , Sethi A 2
1Professor and 2Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Ghopa,
Dharan, Nepal