1. compare the disease outcome in two parallel groups of patients with asthma, receiving therapy aimed at either clinical severity only, or therapy aimed at both clinical severity, and bronchial hyper¬responsiveness to methacho¬li¬ne. The outcome will be assessed at three levels. First, the severity, second, lung function and bronchial responsive¬ness, and third, humoral, cellular, and histological indices of airway inflamma¬tion. To that end we will assess symptoms, lung function, bronchial respon¬siveness, and immunological parameters in blood, every three months. Furthermore, a bronchos¬copy with a bronchoalveolar lavage and bronchial biopsy will be carried out to provide for material for immunologic and pathologic anatomical examination, at the beginning and at the end of the study.