LABAs in asthmatic children: highlights and new inside

Pulm Pharmacol Ther. 2013 Oct;26(5):540-3. doi: 10.1016/j.pupt.2013.04.002. Epub 2013 Apr 11.

Abstract

International asthma guidelines recommend increasing the dose of ICS or adding leukotriene modifiers or the use of long-acting inhaled beta2-agonists (LABAs) in combination with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) when uncontrolled asthma occurs in adult and children in treatment with low-dose inhaled corticosteroids. However, in children, the effects of this last treatment option are unclear because there are few studies on the efficacy and safety of these drugs in pediatric age. Furthermore, salmeterol is licensed for use in children over 4 years and formoterol in children of more than 6 years. Finally, recent data provides evidence that repeated bronchoconstriction induces epithelial cell stress that may lead to remodeling and these findings may have potential implications for asthma management, particularly for LABAs treatment in the future.

Keywords: Asthma; Children; LABAs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Inhalation
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / adverse effects
  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Asthma / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Glucocorticoids / administration & dosage
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists
  • Anti-Asthmatic Agents
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Glucocorticoids