Treatment of Persistent Wheezing in Infants and Children

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Status

Completed

Conditions

Respiratory Sounds

Asthma

Treatments

Drug: Inhaled Fluticasone

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

NIH

Identifiers

NCT00301171

370

K23HL067881-04 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Wheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound that is produced when air flows through narrowed lung airways. It is a common symptom of asthma. Persistent wheezing is commonly treated with bronchodilators and inhaled steroids; however, when wheezing is temporarily caused by a virus or exposure to tobacco smoke, this may not be the most effective treatment. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cause of wheezing in infants and children and to assess the effectiveness of inhaled steroids on improving lung function.

Full description

Asthma prevalence has steadily increased in the United States since the early 1980s, with infants and young children showing the largest increase. Some young children experience wheezing, but it is not known if this is related specifically to asthma. Wheezing may be caused by a respiratory syncytial virus, maternal smoking, a family history of asthma, or allergies. In addition, some infants who experience wheezing may have small or dysfunctional airways and may not respond well to commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory medications. Because of the many causes of wheezing, in order to prescribe the most effective treatment, it is necessary to thoroughly assess lung function, allergic sensitization, and airway inflammation. The purpose of this study is to examine the causes of moderate to severe wheezing in infants and assess the infants' response to inhaled corticosteroid therapy. The study will also assess new and safer ways to measure lung function and airway inflammation.

This study will enroll infants with moderate to severe persistent wheezing. At study entry, participants will undergo lung function testing, which will include a spirometry test, measures of lung volumes, and assessment of bronchodilator responsiveness. Exhaled breath condensate and blood will be collected, and skin-prick testing will be performed to test for allergies. Participants will then be randomly assigned to receive either fluticasone, an inhaled steroid, or placebo for one month. At the end of the month, lung function testing will be performed and exhaled breath and serum measures will be collected to assess airway inflammation. Participants will attend a follow-up evaluation at age 5 years. During the evaluation, lung function, exhaled breath condensate, and serum markers of inflammation will be measured again, and skin-prick testing will also be performed again.

Enrollment

54 estimated patients

Sex

All

Ages

Under 36 months old

Volunteers

No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Moderate to severe persistent wheezing, as defined by the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program Expert Panel Report 2
No signs of upper or lower respiratory tract infection for at least two weeks prior to study entry

Exclusion criteria