Dapsone as an oral corticosteroid sparing agent for asthma (Cochrane Review)

A substantive amendment to this systematic review was last made on 02 July 2002. Cochrane reviews are regularly checked and updated if necessary.

Background: Oral corticosteroids are used as a treatment for asthma, however they are often associated with serious side effects. Dapsone is a sulfone with anti-inflammatory properties, therefore it may have a beneficial effect in the treatment of asthma and act as a corticosteroid-sparing agent.

Objectives: The objective of this review is to assess the safety and efficacy of adding dapsone to oral corticosteroids in adults with stable asthma who are dependent on oral corticosteroids with the intention of eventually minimizing or eliminating the use of these steroids.

Search strategy: We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trials register and reference lists of potential articles .

Selection criteria: Randomised controlled trials investigating the addition of dapsone compared to placebo in stable corticosteroid dependent asthmatics.

Data collection and analysis: No trials were found that met the selection criteria.

Main results: No meta-analyses could be performed.

Reviewers' conclusions: No randomised controlled trials have been published, so there is no reliable evidence to show whether dapsone is beneficial or otherwise in the management of steroid-dependent asthmatic patients. There is a need for well designed randomised controlled trials to be performed. These must be carried out double-blind, since oral corticosteroid reduction requires a judgement on the part of the physician, who may be open to bias if the treatment allocation is known.

Citation: Dewey A, Bara A, Dean T, Walters EH. Dapsone as an oral corticosteroid sparing agent for asthma (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 3, 2003. Oxford: Update Software.

---

This is an abstract of a regularly updated, systematic review prepared and maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. The full text of the review is available in The Cochrane Library (ISSN 1464-780X).

The Cochrane Library is designed and produced by Update Software Ltd.

Update Software Ltd, Summertown Pavilion, Middle Way, Oxford OX2 7LG, UK
(Tel:+44 1865 513902; Fax:+44 1865 516918)

File Reference: AB003268.htm