ABSTRACT
The NHLBI, National Asthma Education and Prevention Program's Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma, Expert Panel Report 2 (EPR-2), defines asthma as follows:
..• a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role, in particular, mast cells, eosinophils, T-lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, and epithelial cells. In susceptible individuals, this inflammation causes recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning. These episodes are usually associated with widespread but variable airflow obstruction that is often reversible either spontaneously or with treatment. The inflammation also causes an associated increase in the existing bronchial hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli. (1)
Because eosinophilic inflammation is a constant feature of the mucosa of the airways in asthma, the most effective long-term control medications are those that attenuate inflammation ( 1 ). While inhaled glucocorticoids are the most potent and consistently effective long-term control medication for asthma, concerns about
side effects including growth retardation and adrenal suppression in children have been reported, especially with high doses of inhaled glucocorticoids (2). Thus, the need for alternative anti-inflammatory or long-term control agents for consideration for use in children exists.
