The authors of this paper present a few selected problems of inhaled combination therapy of asthma with corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting β₂-agonist (LAβA) in accordance with maintenance and reliever methods, also known as MART model. Since 2006, international guidelines for asthma management and prevention (Global Initiative for Asthma, GINA) have been recommending low dose ICS as the first-line therapy for patients with mild persistent asthma (the second step of therapy) and medium-dose ICS or a combination of ICS therapy with LAβAs as the preferred therapy for moderate asthma (the third step of therapy). ICS are the mainstay of asthma therapy because they are effective in controlling asthma symptoms and ventilatory parameters. LAβAs – salmeterol and formoterol – mainly present bronchodilator action for over 12 hours. This class of drugs is very important in asthma therapy since it allows for the reduction of the ICS dose. The fundamental feature of asthma is inflammation involving both large and small airways, while the term small airways refers to airways <2 mm in diameter. Involvement of small airways determines asthma severity. Epidemiological studies have shown that, overall, asthma is not adequately controlled in patients not only in clinical trials but “real-life” patients as well. The new model of asthma treatment (which refers to budesonide and formoterol) called maintenance and reliever therapy (MART) presents itself as highly effective and well-tolerated. This therapy model has been found to improve patients’ compliance, hence reducing the risk of therapy discontinuation and improving clinical asthma course. The Modulate platform technology allowed tailoring the particle size of formulated inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate and formoterol (BDF/F) fixed combination which provides a homogeneous distribution of the two active drugs throughout the entire bronchial tree. This extrafine formulation BDP/F has recently been assessed in asthmatics following the model maintenance and reliever therapy. The findings of this study show that the BDP/F combination used as maintenance and reliever therapy improved clinical symptoms of asthma and reduced the number of exacerbations. This model of asthma treatment using superfine BDP/F was well tolerated and can be recommended in asthmatics aged over 18 years.

asthma, inhaled corticosteroids, long-acting β2-agonists, maintenance and reliever therapy