title: Intranasal corticosteroids for mild childhood obstructive sleep apnea--a randomized, placebo-controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of non-surgical treatment for childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is gaining popularity, especially in children with mild disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that intranasal corticosteroids reduce disease severity in children with mild OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of intranasal mometasone furoate (MF) versus placebo in children aged 6 to 18 years with mild OSA. The primary outcome was the change from baseline obstructive apnea hypopnea index (OAHI), as documented by overnight polysomnography, after four months of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-two children were recruited but 12 dropped out. This left 24 and 26 children for final analysis in the MF and placebo group, respectively. The OAHI and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) improved significantly in the MF group only. The OAHI decreased from 2.7 ± 0.2 to 1.7 ± 0.3 in the MF group, but increased from 2.5 ± 0.2 to 2.9 ± 0.6 in the placebo group (p = 0.039). The mean changes in ODI in the MF group and placebo group were -0.6 ± 0.5 and +0.7 ± 0.4, respectively (p = 0.037).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four months of treatment with intranasal mometasone furoate effectively reduces the severity of mild OSA in children.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: katechan@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors: Ching Ching Kate
authors: CC
authors: Chan
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Chun T
authors: CT
authors: Au
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Hugh S
authors: HS
authors: Lam
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Dennis L Y
authors: DL
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Yun K
authors: YK
authors: Wing
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Albert M
authors: AM
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000473:pathology; D017286:Polysomnography; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate
keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea; Pediatrics; Sleep disordered breathing; Topical corticosteroids