TY - JOUR
T1 - Growth effects of systemic versus inhaled steroids in chronic lung disease
AU - Nicholl, R M
AU - Greenough, A
AU - King, M
AU - Cheeseman, P
AU - Gamsu, H R
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Aim: To compare the effects of inhaled and systemic steroids on growth in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods: Sixteen babies with CLD randomly received inhaled budesonide (100 mug four times daily for 10 days via Aerochamber) or systemic steroids (dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg/day, reducing over nine days). Linear growth (lower leg length, LLL) was measured by knemometry twice weekly. Results: The gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age, and LLL velocity (LLLvel) were similar between the two groups at the start of treatment. At the end of the treatment period, LLLvel was reduced in the dexamethasone group (mean -0.01 mm/day) but had increased in the budesonide group (mean 0.48 mm/day). Mean weight gain was non-significantly lower in the dexamethasone group (5.8 g/kg/day) compared to the budesonide group (mean 12.7 g/kg/day). Conclusion: Inhaled budesonide has less short term effects on growth than systemically administered dexamethasone.
AB - Aim: To compare the effects of inhaled and systemic steroids on growth in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants with chronic lung disease (CLD). Methods: Sixteen babies with CLD randomly received inhaled budesonide (100 mug four times daily for 10 days via Aerochamber) or systemic steroids (dexamethasone 0.5 mg/kg/day, reducing over nine days). Linear growth (lower leg length, LLL) was measured by knemometry twice weekly. Results: The gestational age, birth weight, postnatal age, and LLL velocity (LLLvel) were similar between the two groups at the start of treatment. At the end of the treatment period, LLLvel was reduced in the dexamethasone group (mean -0.01 mm/day) but had increased in the budesonide group (mean 0.48 mm/day). Mean weight gain was non-significantly lower in the dexamethasone group (5.8 g/kg/day) compared to the budesonide group (mean 12.7 g/kg/day). Conclusion: Inhaled budesonide has less short term effects on growth than systemically administered dexamethasone.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036310818&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
SN - 1468-2044
VL - 87
SP - F59 - F61
JO - Archives of Disease in Childhood
JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood
IS - 1
ER -