Growth suppression by glucocorticoid therapy

Growth retardation is commonly experienced by children who receive long-term treatment with glucocorticoids. Although most disorders requiring systemic pharmacotherapy are relatively rare, the expanding use of inhaled glucocorticoid preparations for treatment of mild-to-moderate asthma has greatly increased the number of children chronically exposed to exogenous glucocorticoids. This article reviews the pathophysiology of glucocorticoid effects on growth, current information about the effects of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in children with asthma, and preliminary investigation into reversal of glucocorticoid-induced growth failure with growth hormone therapy.