Effects of long-term treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid on growth and pulmonary function in asthmatic children.
In a controlled prospective study we have measured growth and pulmonary function in children with asthma during long-term treatment with inhaled budesonide and compared these findings with those obtained from children not treated with corticosteroids. Two hundred and sixteen children were followed at 6 monthly intervals for 1-2 years without inhaled budesonide and then for 3-6 years on inhaled budesonide. Sixty-two children treated with theophylline, beta 2-agonists and sodium-cromoglycate but not with inhaled steroids were also followed for 3-7 years (controls). During the period of budesonide therapy the mean daily dose decreased from 710 to 430 micrograms (P < 0.01) and no signs of tachyphylaxis to the treatment were seen. Budesonide treatment was associated with a significant reduction in the number of annual hospital admissions due to acute severe asthma (from 0.03 to 0.004 per child, P < 0.001). In patients not treated with budesonide an annual decrease in % predicted FEV1 of 1-3% was seen. In contrast FEV1 improved significantly with time during budesonide treatment, both compared with the run-in period and with the control group (P < 0.01). Furthermore, there was a significant (P = 0.01) relationship between the duration of asthma at the start of budesonide and the annual increase in FEV1 during budesonide therapy. After 3 years of treatment with budesonide, children who started this therapy later than 5 years after the onset of asthma had significantly lower FEV1 (96%) than the children who received budesonide within the first 2 years after the onset of asthma (101%) (P < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Agertoft
L
L
Department of Paediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Denmark.
Pedersen
S
S
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019819:Budesonide; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000187:drug effects
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011282:Pregnenediones; D019819:Budesonide