Placebo-controlled study of montelukast and budesonide on short-term growth in prepubertal asthmatic children.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Inhaled corticosteroids and anti-leukotriene agents are widely used in the treatment of pediatric asthma. Although data on the effect of corticosteroids on growth are available, there are few such data on anti-leukotriene agents. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of montelukast on short-term lower leg growth rate (LLGR) in prepubertal children with asthma.

METHODS:

Forty-two boys (6- to 12-year old) and 29 girls (6- to 11-year old) with mild asthma were randomized to 1 of 2 crossover arms, with two treatment sequences per arm: montelukast 5 mg once daily/placebo or inhaled dry powder budesonide 200 microg twice daily/placebo. Budesonide was used as a positive control to ensure that the method was sensitive enough to detect a suppression of LLGR. The 3-week double-blind treatment period was followed by a 3-week washout. Primary outcome was LLGR over the 3-week treatment, measured by knemometry.

RESULTS:

Ninety-four percent of patients completed the study. Mean LLGR was similar between patients receiving montelukast and placebo treatments: mean difference, -0.02 mm/week [95% confidence interval -0.14, 0.11]. Mean LLGR in patients receiving budesonide was significantly less than for those receiving placebo (difference of -0.16 mm/week [-0.25, -0.06], P = 0.002). Mean LLGR was similar for patients taking placebo in the two arms (0.43 and 0.44 mm/week).

CONCLUSION:

Montelukast 5 mg did not significantly affect short-term LLGR in prepubertal children.

• Authors: Søren Pedersen, Lone Agertoft, Debora Williams-Herman, Olga Kuznetsova, Theodore F Reiss, Barbara Knorr, S Balachandra Dass, Ole D Wolthers
• Journal: Pediatric pulmonology (Pediatr Pulmonol) Vol. 42 Issue 9 Pg. 838-43 (Sep 2007) ISSN: 8755-6863 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17659605 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Chemical References

• Acetates
• Anti-Asthmatic Agents
• Cyclopropanes
• Quinolines
• Sulfides
• Budesonide
• montelukast

Topics

• Acetates (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Anti-Asthmatic Agents (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Asthma (drug therapy)
• Body Height (drug effects)
• Budesonide (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Cyclopropanes
• Double-Blind Method
• Female
• Humans
• Leg (growth & development)
• Male
• Quinolines (pharmacology, therapeutic use)
• Sulfides
• Treatment Outcome