This is a review concerning the use of glucocorticoids in patients with acute bronchial asthma. Using peak expiratory flow (PEF), forced expired volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) the time course of response shows a significant improvement in one to three hours, maximal effect in eight hours and still significant effect after thirty hours. The smallest dose tested is 15 mg prednisolone eight-hourly orally which seems as effective as methylprednisolone 250 mg six-hourly intravenously. Methylprednisolone-(sodium-acetate) 80 mg given as single dose, intramuscularly seems better than methylprednisolone 32 mg orally twice daily (reducing to 0 mg over eight days) in outpatient treatment of patients not taking glucocorticoids.