Table 1

Patient flow through the study

	Budesonide 3 mg	Budesonide 9 mg	Prednisolone 7.5 mg	Placebo	Total
Of 150 patients enrolled, five were not randomised because they were ineligible and two for other reasons.
*Five patients had two reasons for discontinuation.
Randomised	37	36	39	31	143
Lost to follow up	0	1	0	0	1
Included in intention to treat analysis	37	35	39	31	142
Discontinued study medication	7	6	3	7	23
Symptom deterioration*	5	3	1	3	12
Adverse event*	1	2	1	2	6
Other reasons*	3	0	1	2	6
Completed study medication	30	30	36	24	120