The FDA has approved vamorolone (Agamree – Catalyst), an oral corticosteroid, for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in patients ≥2 years old. Vamorolone is the second oral corticosteroid to be approved in the US for treatment of DMD; deflazacort (Emflaza) was approved in 2017.

View the Table: Some Drugs for Inflammatory Bowel Disease

The FDA has approved loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.25% (Eysuvis – Kala) for short-term treatment (≤2 weeks) of dry eye disease. It is the first ocular corticosteroid to be approved for this indication. Other formulations of loteprednol are approved for treatment of steroid-responsive ocular inflammatory conditions, inflammation after ocular surgery, and seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.

The FDA has approved Airsupra (AstraZeneca), a metered-dose inhaler containing the short-acting beta₂-agonist (SABA) albuterol and the inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) budesonide, for use as needed for treatment or prevention of bronchoconstriction and to reduce the risk of exacerbations in patients ≥18 years old with asthma. Airsupra is the first combination of a SABA and an ICS to become available in the US. It is not approved for use as maintenance therapy.

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP; normal range 8-22 mm Hg), which is the only disease-related factor that can be modified. Topical drugs that lower IOP are the first line of treatment for open-angle glaucoma.

View the Comparison Table: Inhaled Drugs for Treatment of COPD

Initial treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) depends on the severity of symptoms and whether they are intermittent or persistent (see Table 1).

Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), referred to collectively as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic immune-mediated inflammatory conditions. Guidelines for treatment of UC and CD have been updated in recent years

The main goals of treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are to relieve symptoms, reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations, prevent disease progression, and reduce mortality. GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) guidelines for treatment of COPD were updated recently. Treatment of acute exacerbations is not discussed here. Drugs available for treatment of COPD are listed in Tables 1 and 3.

The goal of asthma treatment is to control symptoms, prevent exacerbations, and maintain normal lung function. Management of acute exacerbations in the emergency department is not discussed here.