• D J Evans, P Cullinan, and D M Geddes.
• Respiratory Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Milton Road, Portsmouth, UK, PO3 6AD. david.evans@smail01.porthosp.swest.nhs.uk
• Cochrane Db Syst Rev. 2001 Jan 1 (2): CD002987.

BackgroundPatients with chronic severe asthma are often dependent on the long term prescription of oral corticosteroids. The use of steroids is associated with serious side effects. Physicians treating such patients continue to search for alternative therapies that reduce the need for chronic dosing with oral steroids. troleandomycin is a compound that is established as an effective antibiotic but may also have non antibacterial actions that may be useful in the treatment of asthma.ObjectivesThe objective of this review was to assess the effects of adding troleandomycin to oral steroids in the treatment of chronic steroid dependent asthmatics.Search StrategyThe Cochrane Airways Group trials register and reference lists of identified articles were searched.Selection CriteriaRandomised trials looking at the addition of troleandomycin compared to placebo in adult steroid dependent asthmatics.Data Collection And AnalysisTrial quality was assessed and data extraction was carried out by two reviewers independently. Study authors were contacted for missing information.Main ResultsThree trials fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the review and a total of 112 patients were recruited into these studies. Data from 90 patients were analysed. There was no treatment effect for troleandomycin in terms of steroid dose reduction (SMD -0.29, 95% CI -0.75, 0.17). For measures of lung function a meta-analysis of data derived from two of the included studies showed no benefits for added troleandomycin (SMD 0.06 95% CI -0.8, 0.9).Reviewer's ConclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to support the use of troleandomycin in the treatment of steroid dependent asthma.

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