Effect of budesonide on bone density and bone metabolism of asthmatic children.

Objective. To assess the effect of inhaled budesonide on the mineral densit y, content and bone metabolism in children with asthma. Material and method s. From September 1996 to July 1997, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 38 prepubertal children aged 6 to I I years, selected from the pediatric chest outpatient clinic of the Institute Autonomo Hospital Universitario d e Los Andes, Merida,Venezuela. Three study groups were assembled: 9 asthmat ic children treated with inhaled budesonide (300 mu g/day) for over 6 month s (Group A); 14 asthmatic children not treated with inhaled corticosteroids (Group B); and 15 nonasthmatic children (Group C). All of them underwent t esting of bone formation and resorption markers, and measurement of bone mi neral density (DMO) and content (CMO). Statistical analysis consisted of ce ntral tendency and dispersion measures, analysis of variance, and Fisher an d Scheffe tests for comparison of means. Results. In the groups studied (A, B, and C) calcium serum levels were 9.1+/-0.3; 9.6+/-0.4; 9.3+/-0.6 mg/ml, respectively; osteocalcine levels were 14.8+/-4.6; 13.0+/-2.5; 11.9+/-3.4 ng/dl; the type I collagen carboxyterminal telopeptide (ICTP) levels were 1 9.6+/-16.5; 14.2+/-15.4; 13.0+/-18.3 mu g/l; the DMO levels were 0.67+/-0.0 6; 0.68+/-0.06; 0.69+/-0.06 g/cm(2); and the CMO levels were 1 158.8+/-217. 4; 1 106.4+/-256.1; 1 176.5+/-240.5 g, respectively. No statistically signi ficant differences were observed between the groups. Conclusions. The admin istration of 100-400 mu g/day of inhaled budesonide for a period of six mon ths, did not change the bone mineral density and metabolism of asthmatic ch ildren.