title: Intestinal calcium absorption and parathyroid hormone secretion in asthmatic patients on prolonged oral or inhaled steroid treatment.
abstract: A secondary hyperparathyroidism resulting from decreased intestinal calcium (Ca) absorption has been proposed as a contributory factor to glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Inhaled steroids do not usually suppress adrenal gland function unless daily doses above 1,500 microgram are used. A recent study, however, has shown a reduced total body calcium in patients on regular beclomethasone treatment. In theory, osteopenia in these patients could be due to a direct effect of inhaled steroids on bone or due to an impaired intestinal calcium absorption. In this study, Ca absorption and parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion were evaluated in three groups: 1) asthmatics on continuous oral and inhaled steroid treatment (11.3 +/- 4.4, range 5-33.5 mg.day-1 prednisone and 660 +/- 265, range 400-1,600 microgram.day-1 beclomethasone, respectively); 2) asthmatics on regular beclomethasone therapy (585 +/- 210, range 400-1,200 microgram.day-1); and 3) healthy subjects. The prevalence of vertebral fractures was evaluated by a spinal X-ray. No differences were found in either Ca absorption or PTH serum levels between asthmatics and healthy subjects (analysis of variance-ANOVA). Vertebral fractures were significantly more frequent in patients from group 1 (14 of 25) than in those from group 2 (2 or 25). We conclude that both prolonged oral steroid treatment and inhaled steroids, at doses lower than 1,600 microgram.day-1 do not cause Ca malabsorption, and that hyperparathyroidism does not contribute to osteoporosis in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Pneumologia Hospital Clinic, Facultat de Medicina, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luengo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Picado
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Piera
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guañabens
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Montserrat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Setoain
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D001507:Beclomethasone; D002118:Calcium; D011241:Prednisone