title: Quantitative Ultrasound Measurement at the Hand Phalanges Does Not Reveal Skeletal Disturbances in Children With Bronchial Asthma: A Longitudinal Observation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the skeletal status in asthmatic children treated with inhaled corticosteroids in a longitudinal observation by quantitative ultrasound (US) measurement at the hand phalanges.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four children were studied prospectively. Quantitative US measurements were performed at baseline and after a mean ± SD of 2.35 ± 0.20 years. The obtained results were compared to age-, sex-, and body size-matched control participants selected from a database of previously examined healthy children. Individual changes in the amplitude-dependent speed of sound (Ad-SoS) during the follow-up period were also analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the asthmatic children was 10.6 ± 2.5 years. The mean Ad-SoS in the asthmatic children at baseline was 1940.5 ± 49.6 m/s, and the mean Z score was -0.26 ± 0.80. Corresponding values at the follow-up examination were 1976.2 ± 63.6 m/s and -0.18 ± 1.16. The results did not differ significantly in comparison to the healthy controls. The analysis of individual changes in Ad-SoS revealed that 18 participants had a significant increase in this parameter (ie, exceeding the least significant change threshold), and 16 did not have a significant change in their values. No one had a significant decrease in Ad-SoS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quantitative US at the hand phalanges applied as a diagnostic tool revealed no essential differences in the pattern of skeletal development between asthmatic children treated with inhaled glucocorticosteroids and healthy controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Adamczyk
authors.affiliation: Departments of Internal Medicine, Diabetology, and Nephrology, Metabolic Bone Diseases Unit, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Pluskiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Pediatrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Zenon
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halaba
authors.affiliation: Allegro Med Outpatient Medical Care, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowakowski
authors.affiliation: Allegro Med Outpatient Medical Care, Gliwice, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Madaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, School of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Bogna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Drozdzowska
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D050278:Finger Phalanges / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000187:drug effects; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones
keywords: bronchial asthma; children; hand phalanges; inhaled corticosteroids; longitudinal observation; musculoskeletal ultrasound; quantitative ultrasound