Abstract: AIM:To evaluate the therapeutic effect and to observe the changes of levels of serum cytokine soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) and interleukin- 8 (IL-8) and the absolute number of eosinophil in blood (EOS) of roxithromycin combined with inhaled budesonide (BUD) dry powder inhalation (pulmicort turbuhaler) on asthma, comparing with the inhaled pulmicort turbuhaler group.METHODS:45 asthmatic subjects were randomly treated with either roxithromycin combined with pulmicort turbuhaler (treatment group) or pulmicort turbuhaler (control group).The treatment course was 4 weeks.Before the treatment and after 4 weeks of the treatment, the levels of sIL-2R, IL-8, EOS and lung function were detected, as well as the scoring of clinical symptoms.RESULTS :There were 40 subjects who fulfiled their trials.Both clinical symptoms scores and lung function, FEV₁, FEV₁/pred %, PEF and PEF/pred %were significantly improved in both groups after treatment.The levels of sIL-2R, IL-8 and EOS were significantly decreased in both groups after treatment.Moreover, the indexes in treatment group were significantly improved than those in control group.The side effects in both groups were similar.CONCLUSION:Roxithromycin has anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects on treating asthma.Roxithromycin associated with pulmicort turbuhaler can enhance curative effect on asthma.

Key words: asthma, roxithromycin, soluble interleukin-2 receptor, interleukin-8, eosinophil