Adrenal function and lipid metabolism in asthmatic children with budesonide treatment.

Objective. To assess the effect of low doses of inhaled budesonide on the a drenal function and lipid metabolism of asthmatic children. Material and me thods. The study included 10 asthmatic children (mean age, 8.8 years) treat ed with inhaled budesonide (200-300 mu g/day) for a period longer than 3 mo nths (group A); 15 asthmatic children (mean age, 7.8 years) without steroid treatment (group B) and 10 non-asthmatic children (group C), Basal cortiso l levels,as well as postACTH, adrenal androgens, lipids and urinary cortiso l were determined. Results. No significant differences were detected betwee n groups A and B in the studied variables. In asthmatic children, urinary c ortisol was significantly higher than in non-asthmatic children. Triglyceri des, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic index levels were higher in asthmatic children with and without budesonide treatment, compared with nonasthmatic children. Conclusions. Treatment of asthmatic children with low doses of inhaled budesonide did not modify the adrenal axis function nor lipid metabolism. Asthmatic patients showed an at herogenic lipid profile which could increase the risk of cardiovascular dis ease.