POTENTIAL ADVERSE ENDOCRINE EFFECTS OF INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS

Evidence exists for a potential role for inhaled corticosteroids, part icularly when used in high dose to cause growth impairment, delayed ma turation and adrenal suppression in children and adolescents with asth ma. The functional significance of biochemical adrenal suppression rem ains uncertain. Similarly, there is as yet insufficient evidence to de termine whether inhaled corticosteroids may adversely affect bone mine ral density in children and adolescents with asthma.