title: From knemometry to final adult height: inhaled corticosteroids and their effect on growth in childhood.
abstract: Growth impairment in children with asthma, as a consequence of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), is a major issue. Adverse systemic effects of ICS have been reviewed extensively, but no clinically relevant effects are reported if they are used in an appropriate dose as advocated in most guidelines. Growth studies can be divided into knemometry studies, intermediate term studies, and long term studies up to final adult height. These different studies provide different information. Knemometry demonstrates a dose dependent systemic effect, while all intermediate term studies demonstrate growth reduction of approximately one cm after one year of treatment. Most reassuring is that this delay seems to be temporary. The one study with a follow-up to final height shows no differences between the ICS and non-ICS treated children. The studies suggest that the use of ICS with respect to growth is safe if these drugs are used in a low to medium dose.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Emma Children's Hospital AMC and VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ilja
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Vreede
authors.forename: Eric G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Haarman
authors.forename: Aline B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Sprikkelman
authors.forename: Wim M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: van Aalderen
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents