Prof. Dr. Helgo Magnussen, Head of the Department of Pneumology at the Stephansplatz Hospital, and his working group at the Pneumological Research Institute at the LungenClinc Grosshansdorf have published an important paper online in the renowned journal "New England Journal of Medicine" on the significance of inhalable cortisone in the therapy of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD. The results of this work will significantly influence the therapy of this common lung disease.
Almost 2,500 patients at 200 study centres in 23 countries participated in the study. It demonstrates that the previously recommended use of inhalable cortisone in patients with severe COPD has no additional benefit in preventing acute worsening. Since inhalable cortisone continues to have an excellent therapeutic effect in patients with bronchial asthma, it is important to distinguish COPD from asthmatic disease through thorough diagnostics. In addition, many patients with COPD have bronchial asthma at the same time, so that the use of inhalable cortisone can also be useful here.
The editors of the New England Journal of Medicine attached great importance to these findings and accompanied the publication of Prof. Magnussen and his colleagues with an editorial by John J. Reilly entitled "Stepping Down Therapy in COPD".
The team of the Klinikum Stephansplatz cordially congratulates Prof. Magnussen and his team on this important scientific publication!
