Are all inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) created equally?

Dr. Don Cockcroft, University of Saskatchewan, SK

The presentation will review the history of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use in asthma from early use of cortisone acetate powder in the 1950s to the first commercial ICS MDI (BDP) in the 1970s, up to more recently introduced ICS. It will concentrate on the evolution of ICS structural features as it relates to potency and therapeutic index.

Learning Objectives
At the end of this presentation, attendees will be able to:

• Summarize data supporting older and modern ICS medications in asthma and how steroids evolved since the 1970s.
• Re-evaluate the concept of ICS dose equivalence – what evidence supports low, med, high dose ICS?
• Discuss the unique structural features of older and modern ICS, the concept of steroid potency, therapeutic index, and its clinical impact.

This session is developed by the Canadian Thoracic Society with an independent educational grant from GSK.