Objective: To study the incidence of acute attacks of asthma and dynamic changes in laboratory markers in children with well-controlled asthma after the withdrawal of low-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), and to provide a basis for optimal long-term control regimens for children with asthma.
Methods: A total of 63 children with well-controlled asthma were enrolled as subjects. According to their parents' wishes, they were continuously administered with ICS (ICS treatment group; n=35) and without ICS (ICS withdrawal group; n=28). They were followed up for 18 months. The incidence of acute attacks of asthma was evaluated, dynamic monitoring was performed for pulmonary function and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and childhood asthma control test (C-ACT) was performed every three months.
Results: At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up, there was no significant difference in FeNO between the ICS treatment and withdrawal groups (P>0.05). However, at 15 and 18 months of follow-up, the withdrawal group had a significantly higher level of FeNO than the ICS treatment group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the C-ACT score between the two groups at all time points of follow-up (P>0.05). At 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of follow-up, there were no significant differences between the two groups in the percentage of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, the ratio of forced expiratory volume in 1 second to forced vital capacity, percentage of predicted maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF%), and maximal expiratory flow at 50% of vital capacity (MEF50) (P>0.05), while at 15 and 18 months of follow-up, the ICS treatment group had significantly higher MMEF% and MEF50 than the withdrawal group (P<0.05). During follow-up, 3 children (9%) in the ICS treatment group and 8 (29%) in the withdrawal group experienced acute attacks of asthma (P=0.0495).
Conclusions: Continuous inhalation of low-dose ICS can maintain the stability of pulmonary function and reduce acute attacks of asthma in children with well-controlled asthma.
目的: 通过随访达良好控制哮喘患儿停用低剂量吸入性糖皮质激素（ICS）后哮喘急性发作情况，以及实验室指标的动态变化，以期为哮喘患儿的长期控制最佳方案提供依据。
方法: 根据家长意愿，将63例达到良好控制的哮喘患儿分为ICS治疗组（n=35）和停药组（n=28），进行18个月随访，每3个月进行评估，观察哮喘急性发作情况，并动态监测两组患儿肺功能和呼出气一氧化氮（FeNO）浓度，以及儿童哮喘控制测试（C-ACT）评分等指标进行分析。
结果: 随访第3、6、9、12个月时，FeNO在两组间比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；但在随访第15、18个月时，停药组FeNO显著高于治疗组（P < 0.05）。6次随访时点内C-ACT在两组间比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。随访第3、6、9、12个月时，第1秒用力呼气容积占预计值的百分比（FEV1%）、第1秒用力呼气量占用力肺活量比值（FEV1/FVC%）、最大呼气中期流速占预计值百分比（MMEF%）、最大呼气50%肺活量的瞬间流速（MEF50%）等指标在两组间比较差异无统计学意义（P > 0.05）；但在随访第15、18个月时，治疗组MMEF%、MEF50%显著高于停药组（P < 0.05）。治疗组随访期间有3例（9%）患儿哮喘发作，停药组有8例（29%）患儿哮喘发作，停药组哮喘复发率高于治疗组（P=0.0495）。
结论: 持续吸入低剂量ICS可维持哮喘患儿肺功能稳定，减少哮喘发作。