title: Endocrine Effects of Inhaled Corticosteroids in Children.
abstract: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are widely used as first-line treatment for various chronic respiratory illnesses. Advances in devices and formulations have reduced their local adverse effects. However, as delivery of ICSs to the lungs improves, the systemic absorption increases, and an adverse effect profile similar to, although milder than, oral corticosteroids has emerged. The most serious potential adverse effect is adrenal insufficiency, which can be life threatening. Adrenal insufficiency occurs most in patients taking the highest doses of ICSs but is reported with moderate or even low doses as well. Our recommendations include greater vigilance in testing adrenal function than current standard practice. In patients with diabetes mellitus (types 1 and 2), an increase in glucose levels is likely, and diabetes medication adjustment may be needed when initiating or increasing ICSs. The risk of linear growth attenuation and adverse effects on bone mineral density is generally low but should be considered in the face of additional risk factors. On behalf of the Pediatric Endocrine Society Drugs and Therapeutics Committee, we present a review of the endocrine adverse effects of ICSs in children and offer recommendations relating to testing and referral. Limited data in particular realms diminish the strength of certain recommendations, and clinical judgment continues to be paramount.
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Chirag R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Kapadia
authors.affiliation: Riley Hospital for Children, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.
authors.forename: Todd D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Nebesio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, St Louis University, Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St Louis, Missouri.
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willi
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison.
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Elka
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jacobson-Dickman
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000309:Adrenal Insufficiency / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015519:Bone Density; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D005947:Glucose