NEBULIZED BUDESONIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE EXACERBATIONS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Nebulized Budesonide(NB) in the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: 60 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD in the stage Ⅱ were divided into 3 groups in random. The dyspnea score,postbronchodilator FEV_1,arterial blood gases analysis in H_0,H_ 24 ,H_ 72 ,D_7 were measured. And the adverse effect was evaluated at the same time. Results: The changes in postbronchodilator FEV_1,dyspnea score,PaCO_2 in the patients with active treatments were greater than those with placebo. The difference between NB and prednisolone group was no significant. Budesonide had less systemic activity than prednisolone as the placebo. Conclusion: Both NB and prednisolone improved airflow obstruction in COPD patients with acute exacerbations when compared with placebo. NB may be an alternative to oral prednisolone in the treatment of exacerbations of COPD.