The Dose of Inhaled Corticosteroids with Equisystemic Effects (DICE) study estimated dose-response curves with respect to adrenal suppression for six distinct inhaled corticosteroids. The inhaled steroids and delivery systems were characterized in terms of systemic effects so that doses that produced "equi-systemic" effects could be subsequently compared in future efficacy studies, including the efficacy study "Measuring Inhaled Corticosteroid Efficacy" (MICE). In DICE, a total of 156 (58% male and 31% minority) patients with mild to moderate asthma had a baseline visit and a placebo run-in period to practice taking scheduled doses (4 puffs twice a day) from a metered dose inhaler for 1 week. At the second visit, patients were randomized to placebo or to one of the following six steroid arms, including: 1) beclomethasone dipropionate metered dose inhaler (MDI); 2) budesonide dry powder; 3) flunisolide MDI; 4) fluticasone propionate MDI; 5) fluticasone propionate dry powder; or 6) triamcinolone acetonide MDI. The study addressed the following questions: 1) Were there dose-response relationships in the suppression of overnight plasma cortisol with the various inhaled corticosteroids and delivery systems?; 2) If the dose-response relationships existed, at which doses were comparable systemic effects evident as determined by suppression of overnight plasma cortisol?; and 3) If dose-response relationships existed, which dose produced a 10%, 20%, 30%, or 40% suppression of adrenal steroid secretion (cortisol) for each inhaled steroid and delivery system? DICE was initiated in September 1998 and completed in November 1999. Results have been published.