Efecto de dosis altas de budesonida y función suprarrenal de niños asmáticos severos / High doses of inhaled budesonide and adrenal function in children with severe asthma

Background: The use of inhaled steroids is common in the treatment of bronchial asthma in children. Aim: To assess adrenocortical function in children with severe asthma receiving inhaled budesonide for six or more months. Material and methods: Children with severe asthma that required 800 µg/day or more of inhaled budesonide and that did not required systemic steroids for more than six days in the last four months to control their disease, were studied. Serum cortisol was measured one hour after administration of 0.25 mg of ACTH (Cosyntropin®) intravenously. The test was considered normal if post stimulation serum cortisol was over 18 µg/ml. Results: Twenty children (aged 5 to 14 years, 15 males), were studied. The stimulation test was normal in 17 children. Conclusions: Alterations in adrenal function are present in a small proportion of asthmatic children who require 800 µg/day of inhaled budesonide.

Densitometría ósea en niños leucémicos al completar el primer mes de quimioterapia / Bone mineral density in leukemic children after completing one month of chemotherapy

Background: An important loss of bone mineral density, associated to pain and fractures, has been reported in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aim: To measure bone mineral density among children with acute lymphoblastic leykemia (ALL) that completed the remission induction phase with chemotherapy, that lasts 30 days. Patients and methods: children with ALL, admitted to the oncology unit of a general hospital were considered eligible for the study. body composition and bone mineral density were measured by dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DEXA). each child with ALL was paired with a healthly control. Results: Fourteen children age 1 to 11 years, completed the study, Spine and femoral bone mineral desities were significantly lower than in their matched controls. No differences in total body bone mineral density or content were observed. Children with ALL had a lower fat free mass and a higher fat mass than their matched controls. There was a significant correlation between fat free mass and bone mineral content. Conclusions: After one month of chemotherapy, children with ALL had a lower bone mineral density in the spine and femur and a lower fat free mass.

Densidad mineral ósea en escolares nacidos prematuros / Bone mineral density in school age children born preterm

The age at which children born preterm normalize their bone mineral density, is not well known. Aim: To study if children born preterm have normalized their bone mineral density at age 5 to 7 years. Patients and methods: Twenty six infants born preterm (14 male), were studied at age 5 to 7 years. Birth weight, present weight and height, bone age, calcium and phosphate intake at the first year of life and at the current age were assessed. Bone mineral density was measured by single photon X ray absorptiometry in the dominant forearm. A blood sample was obtained to measure insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1). As a control group, 105 healthy age-paired infants born at term, were studied. Results: Bone mineral density was significantly lower in infants born preterm than in their term counterparts (0.273±0.01 g/cm2 and 0.302±0.01 g/cm2 respectively, p <0.001). There was a positive correlation between bone mineral density and IGF-1 (r=0.49, p=0.01). No correlation with the other measured parameters was observed. Conclusions: Infants that were born preterm have a lower bone mineral density at 5 to 7 years of age than their term controls. Bone mineral density correlates with IGF-1 (Rev Méd Chile 2003; 131: 1289-94).

Suplemento de calcio y absorciometría ósea en niñas / Effects of calcium supplementation on bone density in girls

Background: The achievement of a peak bone mass is an important factor in the prevention of osteoporotic fractures. In normal children, the amount of calcium intake could affect bone mineral increment. Aim: To assess the effect of a daily 500 mg calcium supplement on bone mineral density, in a group of healthy Chilean girls. Patients and methods: Fifty healthy girls were studied and 25 were randomly assigned to receive a 500 mg calcium supplement during 10 months. Bone mineral density of the distal and ultradistal region of the forearm was measured in all girls by single X ray absorptiometry (Osteometer DTX-100) at the beginning and end of the study. Bone mineral density was expressed as Z values. Results: Significant increments in bone mineral density at the distal radioulnar region were obtained in the supplemented girls. No significant changes in bone density were observed in control girls. Conclusions: A daily 500 mg calcium supplement for 10 months increased bone mineral density in healthy girls