Treatment of COPD with inhaled steroids has endless advantages

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the five leading causes of death worldwide, is characterized by an inflammatory response to inhaled fumes that can result in severe complications such as limiting airflow, loss of lung function, and breath shortness.

As per a study by Sebastian Albertí (Institut Universitari d’Investigacions en Ciències de la Salut, IUNICS, Palma de Mallorca, Spain) and colleagues, the effects of an inhaled steroid (fluticasone propionate) could significantly minimize the capability of major pathogens to invade the respiratory epithelium.

From Medicalnewstoday.com:

Patients affected by COPD often suffer episodes of worsening of symptoms called acute exacerbations, mostly caused by bacterial infections. These episodes of exacerbation impact negatively on the health status of the patients, worsen their prognosis and are associated with a very significant social and economic cost.

Treatment with inhaled steroids, such as fluticasone propionate, reduces the frequency and severity of acute exacerbations in patients with COPD, but their role in controlling bacterial infection is controversial.

In healthy subjects the lung is sterile, but in patients with COPD it is not and bacteria like S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae is frequently isolated.

This finding is expected to offer implications to medical practitioners all over the world to treat COPD patients.

Tags: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD, fluticasone propionate, inhaled steroid, steroid, Steroids

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