Referencia nÂș 4
Smith BJ, Buxton JR, Dickeson
J, Heller RF
Does beclomethasone dipropionate suppress dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in
postmenopausal women?
Aust N Z J Med 1994 Aug 24:396-401
BACKGROUND:
Patients with chronic obstructive airways disease and asthma are at special
risk of developing osteoporosis. Previous research has indicated that adrenal
androgen levels in postmenopausal women are suppressed by short term high dose
inhaled corticosteroids. Such an effect, if sustained, may be a causative factor
for long term bone loss. We tested the hypothesis that postmenopausal women
receiving > or = 1 mg/day inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate, long term, have
suppressed dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels when compared to postmenopausal
controls.
METHODS: As part of a larger study, we studied
36 postmenopausal subjects, recruited from regional pharmacies and a hospital
chest clinic, who had been receiving treatment for asthma. Subjects were selected
if they were receiving > or = 1 mg/day inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (n
= 27) or receiving no beclomethasone dipropionate (n = 9). The two groups were
compared for dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels, age and potential confounders.
RESULTS: Mean dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate levels
were 35% lower in the high dose beclomethasone dipropionate group than the control
group (p < 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of suppression
of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate in postmenopausal women receiving long term
inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate. Further research is needed to clarify whether
or not there is any associated clinically important adverse effect on bone density.