title: Effect of prolonged use of inhaled steroids on the cellular immunity of children with asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Systemic corticosteroids may affect the cellular immunity, but there is no available controlled data on such effects associated with a prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The investigation was designed to study the effect of long-term inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate in daily doses of up to 600 micrograms on cellular immune functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four children with asthma treated with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate for a mean of 22.6 months were compared with 16 children with asthma not treated with an inhaled steroid and with 20 healthy adults. Cellular immune parameters included differential white blood count, T- and B-cell numbers, T helper and suppressor counts, T-cell mitogenic transformation, and interleukin-1 and interleukin-2 secretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in any of the studied cellular immune functions among the three study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term use of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate by children with asthma, at daily doses of up to 600 micrograms, has no effect on certain parameters of cellular immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Soroka Medical Center of Kupat Holim, Beer Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zalkinder
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuperman
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skibin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Apte
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bearman
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Mielke
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tal
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001507:Beclomethasone