Linear growth in prepubertal asthmatic children treated with montelukast, beclomethasone, or placebo: a 56-week randomized double-blind study.

BACKGROUND

Antileukotrienes and inhaled corticosteroids are asthma controller agents widely used in the treatment of pediatric asthma.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of montelukast and beclomethasone on linear growth in prepubertal asthmatic children for 1 year.

METHODS

This was a 30-center study of boys (6.4-9.4 years old) and girls (6.4-8.4 years old) at Tanner stage I with mild, persistent asthma. After a placebo run-in period, 360 patients were randomized in equal ratios to double-blind, double-dummy treatment with 5 mg of montelukast, 200 microg of beclomethasone twice daily (positive control), or placebo for 56 weeks; 90% of the patients completed the study. The primary end point was linear growth velocity, measured using a stadiometer.

RESULTS

Linear growth rates were similar between the montelukast and placebo groups; the mean difference for the year was 0.03 cm. The mean growth rate with beclomethasone was significantly less than with placebo (-0.78 cm) or montelukast (0.81 cm) (P < .001 for both). Median percentage of days with beta-agonist use was greater with placebo (14.58%) vs montelukast (10.55%) or beclomethasone (6.65%) (P < .05 for all). More patients used oral corticosteroid rescue with placebo (34.7%) than with montelukast (25.0%) or beclomethasone (23.5%). An imbalance in bone marker levels was seen with beclomethasone but not with montelukast.

CONCLUSION

In prepubertal asthmatic children, montelukast did not affect linear growth, whereas the growth rate with beclomethasone was significantly decreased during 1 year of treatment.