ABSTRACT
A total of 159 trials of inhaled steroid therapy were identified for inclusion in a meta-analysis to determine the effects of inhaled therapy on linear growth in children. Of these, only five trials met the criteria for the meta-analysis, including a randomized controlled trial which included children with asthma in the study and providing greater than 12 weeks of inhaled steroid therapy. Four of the five trials used inhaled beclomethasone (328 to 400 mcg daily) and one study used inhaled fluticasone (200 mcg daily). Analysis of the four beclomethasone trials demonstrated a significant reduction in linear growth in children with mild to moderate asthma who received inhaled beclomethasone when compared to children with a nonsteroid medication (-1.51 cmlyear). In the fluticasone study, there was a mean difference of -0.43 crn/year between 96 children treated with inhaled fluticasone and 87 treated with placebo.
