GLUCOSURIA IN
ASTHMATIC CHILDREN TREATED WITH STEROIDS SYSTEMATICALLY
Papazoglou T., Vamvakiti
E., Skepetara C., Kitsou K., Ziva-Petropoulou M., Papadakou-Lagogianni S.,
Tsakiridi P.
Distict General
Hospital ¡°Asclepeio¡±, Voulas, Athens, Greece
Objective: The aim of our study was the
investigation of glucosuria during treatment of acute episodes of asthma
and the probable relation to preexisting causative factors.
Methods: 123 children hospitalized in our
Department during an asthma exacerbation, 5 months to 14 years, were
evaluated. All of these children were treated with steroids systematically
at a standard dose. Age, gender, body weight were the parameters assesed in
our study, as well as the relation to the time of initiation and cessation
of glucosuria and hepatic function.
Results: 11,5% of these children presented
glucosuria and the age ranged from 3 to 11 years.These 13 children were
divided in 3 subgroups. 1st: In 53% glucosuria was found
after the bolus dose and ceased in the next 24 h despite the continuance of
treatment with steroids. 2nd: 23% presented glucosuria at
some point of the treatment, which continued as long as the treatment
lasted. 3rd: 23% presented glucosuria at some point of
the treatment, which ceased despite the continuance of treatment. The
gender was not a statistically related factor. 54% of our study group were
between the 10th and 97th percentile position for the
body weight, only 23% were above the 97th, so obesity does not
seem to be an important factor. There also seems to be no significant
contribution of the hepatic function as only 15% of the children with
glucosuria exhibited a slight elevation of hepatic enzymes.
Conclusion: An important percentage of children
treated with steroids at a therapeutical dose exhibit glucosuria (11,5%).
We hope, through further research, to discover the exact mechanisms
involved.