Long term budesonide does not affect adrenal function in children

doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.0-f

BMJ 2004;329 (14 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.0-f

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Long term budesonide does not affect adrenal function in children

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Question Does the use of chronic inhaled corticosteroids affectadrenal function in children?

Synopsis Uncontrolled (for example, cross sectional or retrospective)studies have found that chronic inhaled corticosteroid use inchildren may affect hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function.These authors evaluated this effect with a randomised controlledtrial (non-blinded) in 63 children with mild to moderate asthmawho received standard doses of budesonide (400 µg/day;n = 18) or either nedocromil (Tilade) or placebo (n = 45) for36 months. At the time of enrolment the children were about9 years old. Serum cortisol concentrations and response to stimulationwith adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) were measured at baselineand at 12 and 36 months. At both measurements, response to ACTHstimulation was similar in the children receiving budesonideand those receiving nedocromil or placebo. Urinary excretionof cortisol over 24 hours was also not affected overall, althoughit was significantly lower (P = . . . [Full text of this article]