Carbohydrate, lipid and glucocorticoid metabolism in children with asthma following treatment with high-dose steroid aerosol

In 16 asthmatic children 5–16 years old (mean 11.4 yr) treated with inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate or budesonide, serum lipids and serum lipoproteins, serum C-peptide and serum insulin and urinary cortisol excretion were measured. The dose of inhaled corticosteroid was unchanged for 5 to 12 months prior to investigation. The doses ranged from 800 to 4000 μg (mean 1465 μg) per day. Serum lipids and serum lipoproteins were within the normal range in all patients. One patient treated with an extremely high dose of inhaled steroid showed a high level of serum C-peptide and serum insulin and a very low level of urinary cortisol excretion. The results of the other 15 patients were within the normal range.