To evaluate the adrenal axis in asthmatic children treated with moderate doses of fluticasone propionate and to evaluate the DHEA-S as a possible marker for adrenal axis 谋n preadrenarchal children.
Twenty-eight children with persistent asthma with a mean age of 4.4 years (median 4.2; range 2.5-7.1) on long term treatment (mean 6.16; median 6; range 4.5-9 months) with moderate doses (mean 250; median 253; range 158-347 (g/m2/day) of inhaled fluticasone propionate were evaluated with low-dose ACTH stimulation test to assess adrenal function, and DHEA-S levels were compared with the results.
One out of 28 patients (3.57%) demonstrated an abnormal cortisol response to low-dose ACTH test. There was no correlation between DHEA-S and peak cortisol, morning cortisol and fasting blood glucose levels. However, mean inhaled corticosteroid dosages were inversely correlated with the DHEA-S.
In most of the children with persistent asthma, mild to moderate fluticazone propionate doses supress the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis rarely. Chronic moderate doses of ICS may suppress adrenal androgen levels without supression of cortisol production. DHEA-S levels may be used as a practical method to follow adrenal functions and may be an earlier indicator of adrenal dysfunction in children.