Study groups:
Patients diagnosed with EB will be randomised into three groups as follows:
Group 1(4-week treatment group):The patients with eosinophilic bronchitis received Pulmicourt Turbuhaler (Budesonide 100µg) 2puff Q12h for 4 weeks.
Group 2(8-week treatment group):The patients with eosinophilic bronchitis received Pulmicourt Turbuhaler (Budesonide 100µg) 2puff Q12h for 8 weeks.
Group 3(16-week treatment group):The patients with eosinophilic bronchitis received Pulmicourt Turbuhaler (Budesonide 100µg) 2puff Q12h for 16 weeks.
The study will be divided into following phases:
1. First Visit (Visit 1, day -3):
A full medical history and physical examination to be undertaken to determine whether patients meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria.
After the informed consent has been signed, the following samples are obtained from all patients: blood samples for routine clinical laboratory tests (haematology, biochemistry and chest x-ray). A urine pregnancy test will be performed in women of childbearing potential.
Bronchial provocation test by methacholine inhalation are performed to determined whether it presences of bronchial non-specific hyper-responsiveness. Hypertonic saline induced sputum samples for cell differential is taken to determine whether it esixt eosinophilic airway inflammation.
2. Second Visit (Visit 2, Week 0):
A physical examination was to be performed. All laboratory tests results are obtained to determine whether patients meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Enrolled patients are randomly divided into three groups with inhaled budesonide 200 µg twice daily via a turbohaler for 4 weeks, 8 weeks and 16 weeks respectively and given the Diary Card.
3. During Treatment (Week 0 to Week 4/8/16,every 4 weeks):
Patients were to take study medication for 4 weeks in 4-week group,8 weeks in 8-week group,16 weeks in 16-week group. All patient are followed-up every 4 weeks and completed Diary Card for 7 days in the last week of treatment.
4. Third Visit (Visit 3, Week 4/8/16):
A physical examination were to be performed. The Diary Card were collected and reviewed. Adverse events, secondary complications, concurrent medication will be recorded.Hypertonic saline induced sputum samples for cell differential is taken from enrolled patients.Blood samples for routine clinical laboratory tests (haematology and biochemistry) were obtained
5. Follow-up visits were conducted after 1 year and whenever recurrence of cough :Cough symptom score,visual analogue scale (VAS), spiromery and induced sputum for cell differential is taken from enrolled patients.
