Objective To observe changes of syndrome in the patients with steroid-dependent asthma（SDA）during steroid withdrawal and the therapeutic effect of three-stage sequential therapy on SDA.Methods The 80 patients with SDA were divided randomly into two groups

40 patients were treated with Chinese medicines depending on different syndromes plus Pulmicort Turbuhaler（400μg/day）in the treatment group

while 40 patients with Pulmicort Turbuhaler（800μg/day）in the control group.The therapeutic course was both 12 weeks.Changes of syndrome in the patients with SDA during steroid withdrawal as well as the oral steroid dose

the inhaling frequency of Vantolin

the lung function and the scores of the functional areas of asthma quality of life questionnaire（AQLQ）before and after treatment in the two groups of deficiency of yin and hyperactivity of evil fire were observed.Results In the process of steroid withdrawal

the patients presented such a pathologic change regularity as from deficiency of yin and hyperactivity of evil fire（before withdrawal）to deficiency of yin and yang（during withdrawal）to deficiency of kidney-yang（after withdrawal）.The effect of treatment group was superior to that of control group in terms of the inhaling frequency of Vantolin and the quality of life（P<0.05）.Conclusion In the patients with SDA during steroid withdrawal

there exists such a pathologic change regularity as from deficiency of yin and hyperactivity of evil fire（before withdrawal）to deficiency of yin and yang（during withdrawal）to deficiency of kidney-yang（after withdrawal）.The three-stage sequential therapy could reduce the oral steroid dose

decrease the inhaling frequency of Vantolin

promote the recovery of lung function and improve the quality of life of the SDA patients.