Saline Challenge in Monitoring Asthma Control

It is generally accepted that symptoms and lung function are not sufficient ways to monitor asthma control. Therefore, several objective tests have been developed to help asthma control monitoring, each having their own shortcomings. We have developed a new test, the hypertonic saline cough challenge. In our previous publication this test has proven useful in diagnosing asthma. The present study is planned to investigate whether hypertonic saline cough challenge could be used to monitor asthma control. A group of steroid-naive asthmatics will be recruited. A treatment with inhaled budesonide is started. Asthma control is monitored at regular intervals utilising a validated questionnaire. At the same time points, hypertonic saline cough challenges will be performed. We will analyse whether changes in the responsiveness to the cough challenge reflects the changes in asthma control

Budesonide is given via inhalation utilising a dry powder inhaler called Easyhaler. The dosage is 400 ug twice daily. The duration of the study is 12 weeks but very probably the patients continue the usage of this drug as a part of their routine clinical management.

Inclusion Criteria: symptomatic asthma Exclusion Criteria: usage of inhaled or oral corticosteroids recent febrile respiratory infection severe, unstable asthma

Koskela HO, Purokivi MK. Airway oxidative stress in chronic cough. Cough. 2013 Dec 2;9(1):26. doi: 10.1186/1745-9974-9-26.

Koskela HO, Purokivi MK. Capability of hypertonic saline cough provocation test to predict the response to inhaled corticosteroids in chronic cough: a prospective, open-label study. Cough. 2013 May 20;9:15. doi: 10.1186/1745-9974-9-15. eCollection 2013.