title: Emerging role of long-acting anticholinergics in children with asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the use of inhaled anticholinergics in obstructive airway disease has been established for several years, the clinical experience using these medications in treating patients with asthma is limited. Only few studies so far have included pediatric patients with asthma, but these studies demonstrate relevant therapeutic effects. This review will explore the pharmacological effects of inhaled anticholinergics, provide an overview about current adult and pediatric asthma studies using tiotropium, and describe future research needs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In a phase II study with tiotropium as add-on to maintenance treatment to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) in moderate persistent adolescent with asthma, significant improvement of peak and trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) with a good safety profile could be demonstrated. A pediatric phase II study in symptomatic patients with asthma aged 6-11with comparable study design also demonstrated significant improvement of peak FEV1 with no serious adverse events. However, both studies could not document a significant clinical improvement analyzed by standardized scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tiotropium might become an add-on treatment option in symptomatic pediatric and adolescent patients with asthma despite adequate therapy with ICS and long-acting β2-agonist (LABA) or as an alternative to LABA in patients with safety concerns related to LABA. For a better assessment of the clinical effect, long-term studies are needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology and Allergology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vogelberg
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists