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New Research - June 2010
Beclomethasone and growth
Summary
The authors of this study conducted a prospective long-term "real-life" evaluation of 82 prepubertal steroid-naïve asthmatics 3 years of age or older. They evaluated height/age and weight/age Z scores every three months. 63.4% were males. 68.3% suffered severe persistent asthma, and had normal values for height/age and weight/age Z scores at the time of enrollment.
Patients were followed 5.2 years (2.3 - 6.1) and were treated with a mean daily beclomethasone dipropionate dose of 351.8 mcg (137.3 - 1140.0). Height/age and weight/age Z scores were not affected by the duration of therapy with beclomethasone or the dose administered.
A multivariate analysis showed that severe persistent asthma was associated with lower height for age Z scores, and hospitalizations for asthma were associated with lower weight for age Z scores.
They therefore concluded that asthma severity and exacerbations, but not inhaled beclomethasone, had effects on height and weight.
Reference
Camargos PA and Lasmar LM. Effects of beclomethasone and factors related to asthma on the growth of prepubertal children. Respiratory Medicine 2010; 104(7):951-956.
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