Alejandro J Colom | PubMed Health

PubMed2004

Effects of inhaled fluticasone propionate in children less than 2 years old with recurrent wheezing.

Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two doses of fluticasone propionate (FP) in young children with recurrent wheezing and risk factors for asthma. Our study design was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled comparison of inhaled FP 50 mcg twice daily (FP 100) and 125 mcg twice daily (FP 250), for 6 months. Outcome measures included number of wheezing episodes, days on albuterol, height standard deviation score (height SDS), osteocalcin (OC), bone alkaline phosphatase fraction (AKP), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), and serum levels of cortisol (SC). Our subjects were 30 patients, aged 7-24 months. Mean wheezing episodes were 6.0 +/- 1.9, 1.9 +/- 1.9, and 2.8 +/- 1.2; mean days of albuterol use were 24.3 +/- 1.3, 6.5 +/- 0.8, and 9.1 +/- 0.8, per patient for placebo, FP100, and FP250 groups, respectively. There was a significant reduction in clinical outcome in the two FP groups compared to placebo (P < 0.01). No significant correlations were found between FP dosage and height SDS, OC, AKP, IGFBP-3, and SC. In conclusion, in young children with asthmatic symptoms, FP at 50 and 125 mcg b.i.d. for 6 months significantly improved respiratory symptoms without causing significant side effects on growth and bone metabolism.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2002

Acute viral bronchiolitis and its sequelae in developing countries.

Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) is a common disease found throughout the world. Various aspects of it are being studied: its epidemiology, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Most of these studies are being conducted in developed countries, with only a few taking place in developing countries. Risk factors such as poor nutrition, an adverse environment and early weaning should be studied where these features are common. Treatment aspects such as cost-effectiveness in low income settings need further study. Use of ribavirin and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-immunoglobulin are good examples. Post-bronchiolitic sequelae also need to be studied in low income countries. There is evidence that bronchiolitis obliterans is unusually frequent in some Latin-American countries such as Argentina and Brazil. It will be helpful to undertake combined studies in countries with the same socio-economics, investigating the preventive and management aspects of AVB and its sequelae to reduce the morbidity and mortality.

Acute Disease↗