Inhaled corticosteroid therapy rema...

Inhaled corticosteroid therapy remains the gold standard of asthma treatment, according to a novel report released by the American association of Chest Physicians, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, and the American guild of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. "Systematic Review of the Evidence Regarding Potential Complications of Inhaled Corticosteroid Use in Asthma" appears in the December 2003 issue of Chest and is available online at http://www.chest journal.org/cgi/reprint/124/6/2329.

A panel of masters and representatives from the three professional associations identified critical questions that impact decisions regarding the use of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in relation to the five adult and pediatric risk areas of bone mineral density (BMD) cataracts, glaucoma, produce retardation, and skin thinning. Overall, the panel conclud that the benefits associated with inhaled corticosteroid therapy greatly exce the risks.

In regard to the result of inhaled corticosteroid therapy onward BMD, the panel strongly supported the conclusion that inhaled corticosteroid therapy is not associated with a reduction in BMD in children with asthma. The panel also supported the conclusion that inhaled corticosteroid therapy is associated with skin thinning and easy bruising in adults and children, if it be not that that dosage, duration of use, and patient sex are important variables affecting overall risk.

In addition, the panel completely supported the conclusion that inhaled corticosteroid therapy is associated with a decrease in short-term growing rates in children, but that the overall general intent is small and may not be sustained with long-term therapy. Conclusions regarding the general intent of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in succession BMD in adults and the weight of inhaled corticosteroid therapy upon the development of cataracts and glaucoma were insubstantial because they were supported barely by conflicting or insufficient data.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group