ABSTRACT
Some 50 years after the first administration of adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisone to patients with chronic lung disease (1,2), the debate between pros and cons is far from being closed (3,4). After a brief overwiew of the consensus that is progressively being reached in patients during exacerbations of COPD (5), more attention will be given to the short-and long-term biological and clinical effects (or lack of effects) observed with the oral and/or inhaled steroids in patients with stable COPD.
