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Clinical observations of nebulized flunisolide in infants and young children with asthma and bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Author(s) -
König Peter,
Shatley Miriam,
Levine Clive,
Mawhinney Thomas P.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.1950130407
Subject(s) - medicine , bronchopulmonary dysplasia , asthma , nebulizer , pediatrics , anesthesia , corticosteroid , beclometasone dipropionate , respiratory disease , surgery , gestational age , lung , pregnancy , genetics , biology
Severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is frequently associated with asthma. The combination is often severe enough to necessitate corticosteroid therapy. There are no commercially available nebulizer solutions of corticosteroids for use in infants and young children. Seven infants and small children with very severe BPD and asthma aged 6–24 months, were treated with flunisolide, 187–250 μg q.i.d. in the form of nasal spray delivered by nebulizer. After treatment for 2.5–20 months, four patients showed clinical improvement, one initially improved but later deteriorated and died of cardiac failure, and two patients showed no improvement and died within 3 months. The number of days of hospitalization was significantly reduced from 8.4/month to 2.5/month ( P < 0.05). No side‐effects were detected and it was felt that the three patients who died, did so as a consequence of very severe BPD and its cardiac consequences. The suspension remained stable for 80 min when mixed with normal saline, cromolyn sodium, albuterol, or acetylcysteine. It is concluded that nebulized flunisolide is a potentially useful treatment for infants and young children with asthma and BPD. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.