Osteocalcin, cortisol levels, and bone mineral density in prepubertal children with asthma treated with long-term fluticasone propionate.

AIMS

The objective of this study is to determine the effects of the long-term treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate on osteocalcin, cortisol levels, and bone mineral status in children with asthma.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study examined 230 prepubertal children with asthma (aged 6–11) who had intermittently used inhaled fluticasone propionate for at least 5 years at a mean daily dose of 200 μg (range: 200-350 μg). Serum osteocalcin, cortisol, and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine were obtained from each participant. The control group consisted of gender- and age-matched children (n = 170) who were newly diagnosed with asthma and who were not being treated with corticosteroid.

RESULTS

The average age (± SEM) was 8.9 ± 0.7 years, their mean (± SEM) daily steroid dose was 180.3 ± 55.0 μg, with 236.5 ± 17.2 g total steroid use during treatment. Between the study and the control groups, no significant differences were observed in cortisol, osteocalcin levels, and BMD (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate (100 μg twice daily) revealed no negative effects on serum osteocalcin, cortisol levels, and BMD in children with asthma.