New findings in terms of use of chronic corticosteroids were revealed during the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) in Seattle.
Rebecca Green, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Mo, remarked that corticosteroids (steroids) have proved their worth as wonder drugs for treating health complications when other medications have failed to deliver results.
From News-Medical.Net:
The side effects attributed to corticosteroids include decreased bone mineral density and reduced bone mass, and also in children, reduced growth rate. According to Dr. Green, strategies to alleviate these effects include minimizing oral doses and adding topical or inhaled steroids to provide the same anti-inflammatory benefit in the areas affected by inflammation while avoiding systemic effects. Disturbance in bone acquisition in childhood can reduce peak bone mass and therefore significantly impact the life time risk of osteoporosis.
“One of the challenges has been distinguishing the effects of the inflammatory process itself on bone mass and growth, and the effects of corticosteroids on bone growth from the effects of corticosteroids on bone mass,” she said.
“Analysis of large population databases has recently yielded extremely valuable data about corticosteroids and fractures, with some unexpected impact of lower doses. Analysis of the same database for inhaled steroid use in adults showed a small increase in fracture risk in users of inhaled steroids compared to control, but comparable risk of fracture in inhaled steroid users compared to individuals using inhaled bronchodilators. This suggests that the increased risk of fracture was secondary to the disease itself, not the inhaled steroids,” Dr. Green explained.
Dr. Kelly, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, N.M., remarked that use of inhaled corticosteroids could considerably minimize bone mineral growth in male children progressing through puberty but the associated risk may outweigh the ability to reduce quantity of oral corticosteroids used in these children.
If you would like to make a comment, please fill out the form below.
