Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., Vol 157, No. 1, 01 1998, 178-183.
Bone mineral density in children with asthma receiving long-term treatment with inhaled budesonide [In Process Citation]
L Agertoft and S Pedersen
Department of Pediatrics, Kolding Hospital, Denmark.
The aim of our study was to assess the effects of long-term treatment with
inhaled budesonide (BUD) on total body bone mineral density (BMD), total
body bone mineral capacity (BMC), total bone calcium (TBC), and body
composition in children with asthma. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA
scan) was performed in 157 asthmatic children treated with inhaled BUD at a
mean daily dose of 504 microg (range, 189 to 1,322 microg) for 3 to 6 yr
(mean, 4.5 yr). Measurements were compared with those of 111 age-matched
children also suffering from asthma but who had never been treated with
exogenous corticosteroids for more than 14 d (control group). There were no
statistically significant differences between the two groups in BMD (BUD =
0.915 g/cm2, controls = 0.917 g/cm2), BMC (BUD = 1,378 g, controls = 1,367
g), TBC (BUD = 524 g, controls = 519 g), or body composition (lean body
weight = 27,600 g [BUD] and 26,923 g [control], % body fat = 20.1% [BUD]
and 20.3% [control]). Furthermore, there was no correlation between any of
these parameters and duration of treatment, accumulated or current dose of
budesonide. Three to six years of treatment with inhaled budesonide at an
average daily dose of 504 microg has no adverse effect on total BMD, total
BMC, TBC, or body composition in children with chronic asthma.
