Efficacy of nebulized fluticasone propionate compared with oral prednisolone in children with an acute exacerbation of asthma.
Respiratory Medicine · 2000-12-01 · Randomised trial
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of nebulized fluticasone propionate (FP Nebules) compared with oral soluble prednisolone in children with an acute exacerbation of asthma. The study used an international, multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, parallel group design. Three hundred and twenty-one patients, aged 4-16 years old, who presented with an acute exacerbation of asthma, were randomly allocated to either nebulized FP (1 mg b.d.) or oral prednisolone (2 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 4 days then 1 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 3 days) for 7 days. Patients in the FP group showed a significantly greater increase in diary card morning peak expiratory flow (PEF) over 7 days compared with patients in the prednisolone group (difference = 9.51 min(-1), CI = 2.1, 16.8, P = 0.034). Similar increases for both treatments were shown for evening PEF. Clinic PEF improved with both treatments, but was significantly greater in patients taking FP after 7 days (difference = 11.41 min(-1), CI = 2.8, 20.0, P = 0.029). Both treatments reduced symptom scores to a similar extent. The two treatments were well tolerated, and there was no difference in the incidence of adverse events. The present study demonstrated that nebulized FP is at least as effective as oral prednisolone in the treatment of children presenting with an acute exacerbation of asthma.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Children · Corticosteroids · Inhaled corticosteroids · Respiratory drugs
Related articles
- Effectiveness of inhaled corticosteroids in the treatment of acute asthma in children in the emergency department: a meta-analysis. (Ann Med, 2014)
- Inhaled versus systemic corticosteroids for acute asthma in children. A systematic review. (Pediatr Pulmonol, 2014)
- The effectiveness of high-dose inhaled budesonide therapy in the treatment of acute asthma exacerbations in children. (Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol, 2001)
- A comparison of inhaled fluticasone and oral prednisone for children with severe acute asthma. (N Engl J Med, 2000)
- Safety of corticosteroids in young children with acute respiratory conditions: a systematic review and meta-analysis. (BMJ Open, 2019)
- Expert panel consensus recommendations on the utilization of nebulized budesonide for managing asthma and COPD in both stable and exacerbation stages in Thailand. (J Asthma, 2024)