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Salivary cortisol levels in prepubertal children using inhaled corticosteroids with or without concurrent intranasal corticosteroids
Author(s) -
Heijsman Sigrid M.,
de Vries Tjalling W.,
Wolthuis Albert,
Kamps Arvid W.A.
Publication year - 2011
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.21474
Subject(s) - medicine , morning , saliva , inhaled corticosteroids , asthma , corticosteroid , glucocorticoid , nasal administration , endocrinology , pediatrics , immunology
Background Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and intranasal steroids (INS) are frequently co‐administered in children with asthma and rhinitis. In contrast to monotherapy with ICS or INS, little is known about the safety of concurrent use of topical steroids on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis function in prepubertal children. Objective Comparison of morning salivary cortisol levels in prepubertal children using maintenance treatment with ICS with and without concurrent use of INS to steroid naïve control groups (healthy children, and children with constipation who are under pediatric care). Methods Cross‐sectional observational study in prepubertal children (6–12 years) using ICS alone (n = 41) or in combination with INS (n = 22), compared to different control groups with no steroid treatment (18 healthy children, and 28 children with constipation). Morning salivary cortisol levels were determined from saliva samples collected at home. Results The morning salivary cortisol levels of the healthy children (8.7 nmol/L; 95% CI 5.9–18.8), and the children with constipation (8.9 nmol/L; 8.0–11.3) were comparable. The salivary cortisol levels of prepubertal children using ICS (median 4.7 nmol/L; 95% CI 4.6–6.9) or a combination of ICS and INS (5.1 nmol/L; 4.2–7.6) were comparable, but significantly reduced compared to both control groups. There was no correlation between salivary cortisol level and age, duration of disease, or cumulative daily dose of topical steroids. Conclusion Salivary cortisol levels in prepubertal children using ICS, with or without concurrent use of INS, were comparable. However, salivary cortisol levels were significantly reduced compared to steroid naïve controls, irrespective of the cumulative daily dose of topical steroids. Pediatr. Pulmonol. 2011; 46:1055–1061. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.