[Fluticasone in the therapy of asthmatic children: short-term effects on growth].
OBJECTIVE
Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), for years used in the therapy of low-moderate bronchial asthma, reduce the rate of asthmatic attack with improved pulmonary functioning and quality of life. Clinical trials have been addressed mainly to study the efficacy rather than the safety of drugs, so that the side effects of these drugs have not yet been accurately defined. Clinical experience shows that growth delay appears in the first months of therapy with ICS. The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the therapy with spacer-administered inhaled corticosteroid on short-term auxological development in prepubertal children.


METHODS
In a group of children with low asthma, height and weight have been evaluated before and after six months of inhaled therapy with dipropionate fluticasone at a dose of 100 microg per day.


RESULTS
Twenty-five patients (19 males and 6 females; age 5.5+/-1.6 years; range: 2.6-7.8 years) showed a regular growth during the six months of therapy (mean height 0.8 standard deviation score [SDS] before therapy and 0.8 SDS after therapy), while 21 (17 males and 4 females; age 10.0+/-1.5 years; range 8.0-12.7 years) showed an increment of growth rate (mean height from 0.5 SDS to 0.7 SDS, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Spacer-administered low dose fluticasone does not negatively influence short-term growth rate, regardless of the age of the patients.
Bozzola
E
E
Dipartimento di Scienze Pediatriche, Fondazione IRCCS San Matteo, Pavia, Italia. mauro.bozzola@unipv.it
Meazza
C
C
Prodam
F
F
Bona
G
G
Bozzola
M
M
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001827:Body Height / Q000187:drug effects; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000730:Androstadienes; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D000068298:Fluticasone