[Long-acting beta-2 agonists in pediatric asthma therapy--friend or foe].
Recent publications suggest that long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABAs) increase the risk for death in asthma. The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a relevant alert in 2005. In the currently valid Austrian consensus guidelines for drug therapy of bronchial asthma in children and adolescents, LABAs are only recommended as add-on therapy in those patients whose asthma is not sufficiently controlled by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone. LABAs have no established role in earlier steps of the therapeutic algorithm; consequently, the prescription of ICS-LABA combinations for initial treatment of paediatric asthma is not supported by these consensus treatment guidelines.
Kurz
Herbert
H
Abteilung für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Sozialmedizinisches Zentrum Ost--Donauspital, Wien. herbert.kurz@wienkav.at
Eber
Ernst
E
Frischer
Thomas
T
Götz
Manfred
M
Horak
Elisabeth
E
Riedler
Josef
J
Schmitzberger
Rudolf
R
Zach
Maximilian
M
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D001317:Austria; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations