Update on the Safety of Long-acting Beta2-agonists / 대한내과학회지

ABSTRACT

A recent meta-analysis of clinical trials found that long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) increased life-threatening asthma exacerbations and deaths, which led to warnings concerning regular use of LABA by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is now obvious that LABA monotherapy in asthma increases the risk of serious adverse events. However, the risk is reduced with concomitant use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS). Hence the FDA's recommendations that LABA should not be used in patients whose asthma is well controlled with a medium dose of ICS, or LABA should be withdrawn once asthma control is achieved, remain still controversial. It seems reasonable to follow current guidelines which recommend the use of LABA when asthma is not controlled with ICS, although more well-designed research on the safety of LABA, especially when combined with ICS, is required.