Evidence map›Paper›PMID 14583965›Full record

SynthesisThe Cochrane database of systematic reviews2003

Chloroquine as a steroid sparing agent for asthma.

T Dean, A Dewey, A Bara, T J Lasserson, E H Walters

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2003. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
0.2field-weighted citation impact, top 49% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 15 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Trial
  2. Review
  3. Optimal management of severe/refractory asthma.Clinical medicine insights. Circulatory, respiratory and pulmonary medicine · 2011
    Article
  4. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

T DeanPortsmouth Institute of Medicine, Health & Social Care, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK.
A Dewey
A Bara
T J Lasserson
E H Walters
Cochrane · GBMRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL · GBUniversity of Portsmouth · GBUniversity of Tasmania · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFor the majority of chronic asthmatics, symptoms are best controlled using inhaled steroids, but for a small group of asthma sufferers, symptoms cannot be controlled using inhaled steroids and instead continuous use of high dosage oral steroids (corticosteroids) are required. However, using high dosage oral steroids for long periods is associated with severe side effects. Steroid-sparing treatments have been sought and one of these is chloroquine. Chloroquine is an anti-inflammatory agent, also used in the treatment of malarial infection and as a second-line therapy in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, sarcoidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus. All these diseases are associated with immunologic abnormalities hence the speculation that chloroquine might be used to control severe, poorly controlled bronchial asthma. There is a need to systematically evaluate the evidence regarding its use to reduce or eliminate oral corticosteroid use in asthma.

objectivesThe object of this review was to assess the efficacy of adding chloroquine to oral corticosteroids in patients with chronic asthma who are dependent on oral corticosteroids with the intention of minimising or eventually eliminating the use of these oral steroids. SEARCH STRATEGY: Searches of the Cochrane Airways Group asthma and wheeze trials register were undertaken with predefined search terms in February 2003. SELECTION CRITERIA: Only studies with a randomised placebo-controlled design met the inclusion criteria for the review. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed studies for suitable in the review. Data were extracted and entered into RevMan 4.2.2 MAIN

resultsOne small study was included in the review. No significant findings were reported. REVIEWER'S

conclusionsThere is insufficient evidence to support the use of chloroquine as an oral steroid-sparing agent in chronic asthma. Further trials should optimise oral steroid dosage before addition of the steroid-sparing agent.

Indexed as

Adrenal Cortex HormonesAsthmaChloroquineHumansHydroxychloroquineRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAdrenal Cortex HormonesChloroquineHydroxychloroquine

Identifiers

PMID14583965
PMCPMC12547848
OpenAlexW1499885212

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.