SHORT-TERM GROWTH IN ASTHMATIC-CHILDREN USING FLUTICASONE PROPIONATE

Background: Inhaled corticosteroids may reduce short-term growth veloc ity in asthmatic children and knemometry is the most sensitive tool to detect this short-term growth suppression. Study objective: To compar e lower leg growth velocity, as measured by knemometry, in asthmatic c hildren during and after treatment with inhaled, fluticasone propionat e (Fg), 100 mu g twice daily. Design: Nonrandomized open trial. Settin g: University hospital, outpatient clinic for pediatric pulmonology. P atients: Twenty-one asthmatic children (13 boys), aged 6 to 10 years. Interventions: Inhalation of FP from a dry powder inhaler, 100 mu g, t wice daily for 6 weeks, followed by 2 weeks during; which only an inha led beta(2)-agonist was used on demand (washout). During treatment and washout periods, patients were seen every 2 weeks at the same time of day. Measurements and results: Lower leg growth velocity measured by knemometry during FP treatment was not significantly different from th at during washout (p=0.33, one-way analysis of variance), Conclusions: No significant suppression of lower leg growth velocity was found in prepubertal asthmatic children using FP, 100 mu g, by dry powder inhal er twice daily for 6 weeks.