Short-term lower leg growth rate in children with rhinitis treated with intranasal mometasone furoate and budesonide.
BACKGROUND
Mometasone furoate (MF) aqueous nasal spray is a potent intranasal glucocorticoid with low systemic bioavailability. Knemometry has been shown to be a sensitive method of detecting systemic effects of exogenous steroids in children.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to assess whether MF (100 or 200 microg) or budesonide intranasal aqueous spray (400 microg) influences the short-term lower leg growth rate in children with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
MF, budesonide, and placebo were administered once daily for 2 weeks to 22 children aged 7 to 12 years (mean, 10 years) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. Lower leg measurements were done before and after each 2-week treatment period. Two-week washout intervals separated each treatment period.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in lower leg growth rates among the MF 200 microg (0.95 +/- 0.79 mm; mean +/- SD), budesonide 400 microg (0.73 +/- 0.61 mm), or placebo (0.69 +/- 0.70 mm) groups. The growth rate of the group receiving a 100-microg dose of MF (1.16 +/- 0.67 mm) was greater than that for the group receiving placebo (P =.024) or budesonide (P =.033). No statistically significant sequence effect (P =.11), carry-over effect (P =.24), overall treatment effect (P =.086), or period effect (P =.065) was detected.


CONCLUSIONS
No short-term adverse effects on linear lower leg growth rates were detected after once daily MF or budesonide at clinically relevant doses.
Agertoft
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Kolding, Denmark.
Pedersen
S
S
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D019819:Budesonide