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Original article
Effect of one year treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate or beclomethasone dipropionate on bone density and bone metabolism: a randomised parallel group study in adult asthmatic subjects
  1. T C Medicia,
  2. E Grebskia,
  3. M Häckib,
  4. P Rüegseggerc,
  5. C Madend,
  6. J Efthimiou on behalf of a Swiss study groupd
  1. aDepartment für Innere Medizin, Pneumologie Universitätsspital, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland, bGubelhangstrasse 6, 8050 Zürich, Switzerland, cBiomedizinische Technik und Medizinische Informatik, Universität Zürich, Switzerland, dRespiratory Clinical Research, Glaxo Wellcome R&D, Stockley Park, UK
  1. Professor T C Medici

Abstract

BACKGROUND There is some concern that prolonged treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may have a detrimental effect on bone mass. The aim of this one year study was to investigate the effects of low and high doses of fluticasone propionate (FP) (400 μg/day and 750 μg/day) and beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) (800 μg/day and 1500 μg/day) on bone mass and metabolism.

METHODS This was a multicentre, double blind, parallel group study involving 69 mild to moderate asthmatic subjects who were randomised to treatment as follows: 22 to FP400, 21 to BDP800, 13 to FP750, and 13 to BDP1500. Their mean age was 39 years, 67% were men, and all the women were premenopausal.

RESULTS The results of peripheral quantitative computed tomographic (pQCT) measurements (primary variable) showed that, compared with baseline values, there was no loss of trabecular or integral (cortical and trabecular) bone in the distal radius or tibia in any of the patients over the 12 month study period. No consistent pattern emerged from the analysis of changes from baseline in markers of bone formation and resorption after six and 12 months of treatment.

CONCLUSION The results of this study provide reassuring prospective one year data showing that inhaled corticosteroids, in the range of doses used, had no adverse effects on bone mass and metabolism in this group of asthmatic patients.

  • fluticasone propionate
  • inhaled corticosteroids
  • bone mineral density
  • bone metabolism
  • asthma

https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.55.5.375

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    Prolonged treatment with oral corticosteroids is associated with a reduction in bone density, osteoporosis, and a risk of fractures.1 Inhaled corticosteroids have provided a major breakthrough in the treatment of asthma, producing improvements in symptoms and lung function without the risk of serious side effects commonly associated with oral corticosteroids. There is some concern, however, that prolonged treatment with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids may have a detrimental effect on bone mass.2

    Several studies have reported changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in asthmatic patients using high dose inhaled corticosteroids.3-10 However, most of these studies have been uncontrolled and cross sectional in design. In many cases, too, the results have been confounded by previous or concomitant use of oral steroids or by other factors known to influence bone density such as the menopause. Changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism have also been reported in normal subjects receiving inhaled corticosteroids over short periods.11-14 However, the results from clinical studies are less convincing. Whereas a few studies have found significant effects on bone metabolism,15 ,16substantially more, including long term studies, have reported no or only a small effect.17 ,18 Clearly, further long term research is needed to investigate the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on both bone density and bone metabolism in asthmatic patients.

    Fluticasone propionate (FP) is a recently available inhaled corticosteroid19 with negligible oral bioavailability20 and therefore a reduced potential for systemic effects. A number of clinical studies have shown that FP has an improved therapeutic ratio when compared with other inhaled corticosteroids,21 and at half the microgram dose is at least as effective as beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and budesonide.22-27

    The aim of this study was to investigate prospectively and compare the effects of treatment with low and high doses of inhaled FP and BDP over a one year period on BMD and biochemical markers of bone metabolism in adult patients with moderately severe asthma.

    Methods

    SUBJECTS

    Patients with mild to moderate asthma were recruited from the outpatient departments of seven centres in Switzerland. The age limit was 20–55 years for men and 20–45 years for women (premenopausal). For the six months preceding the start of the study patients had been receiving regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids in doses ranging from 400 to 1600 μg/day.

    Patients were excluded from the study for the following reasons: a change in regular asthma medication (other than inhaled corticosteroids), treatment with antibiotics for infections of the upper or lower respiratory tract, admission to hospital during the previous four weeks; treatment with systemic corticosteroids during the previous eight weeks; more than three short courses of oral steroids or depot corticosteroids in the previous 12 months; excessively overweight or underweight; immobilisation; fractures occurring within the six months preceding the start of the study; disorders of bone metabolism such as osteoporosis or Paget's disease; pregnancy, lactation, inadequate contraceptive precautions, amenorrhoea or a history of irregular menstrual cycles during the 12 months preceding the start of the study; treatment with any medication likely to influence bone metabolism.

    The study was approved by the appropriate local ethics committee and all subjects provided written informed consent. The study was performed in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and with Good Clinical Practice.

    STUDY DESIGN

    This was a multicentre, double blind, randomised, parallel group study of 12 months duration. After an initial screening visit patients entered a four week run in period during which their regular inhaled corticosteroid therapy was standardised to either BDP 800 μg/day or 1500 μg/day, depending on the dose of their inhaled corticosteroid prior to entry and at the discretion of the investigator. Salbutamol metered dose inhaler was used as required to relieve symptoms and most patients also used long acting β2 agonists.

    After successful completion of this period, and depending upon whether they were in the low (BDP800) or high (BDP1500) dose run in group, patients were randomly assigned to treatment with either fluticasone propionate (FP) 400 μg/day (200 μg twice daily) or BDP 800 μg/day (400 μg twice daily), or FP 750 μg/day (375 μg twice a day) or BDP 1500 μg/day (750 μg twice a day). Study treatment was administered using a metered dose inhaler (MDI) and a large volume spacer device (Volumatic™). All other asthma medication remained unchanged.

    Clinic visits were held at the beginning and end of the run in period and every two months thereafter throughout the 12 month treatment period. Patients attended an additional follow up visit two weeks after completing the study.

    PROCEDURE

    At the initial screening visit patients underwent a full physical examination and provided details of their medical history. The physical examination was repeated at the final 12 month visit.

    Samples of venous blood and urine were collected at the start (0), mid point (6 months), and end (12 months) of treatment. Blood samples were taken from fasted patients between 08.00 and 10.00 hours. Urine samples were taken from 24 hour collections started at 08.00 hours on the day before the clinic visit and preserved in hydrochloric acid. Blood and urine samples taken at the start and end of treatment were analysed for routine haematological and biochemical parameters. Serum samples taken at 0, 6, and 12 months were analysed for cortisol and markers of bone metabolism including osteocalcin, procollagen type I carboxy terminal propeptide (PICP), alkaline phosphatase (bone specific), creatinine, calcium, and carboxy terminal cross linked telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP). Urine samples taken at 0, 6, and 12 months were analysed for calcium, phosphate, creatinine, hydroxyproline, and deoxypyridinoline. All samples were analysed centrally by the Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Zurich.

    The cortisol samples were analysed using the Immulite TM (DPC) chemoluminescence immunoassay. Osteocalcin, PICP, and ICTP were analysed using radioimmunoassay and hydroxyproline was analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Deoxypyridinoline was analysed by enzyme immunoassay.

    BMD was measured at 0, 6, and 12 months using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) and dual energyx ray absorptiometry (DXA). pQCT (Densiscan-1000, Scanco Medical, Switzerland) was used to measure the BMD (mg/cm3) of the radius and tibia, evaluating trabecular, total (integral), and compact bone. For trabecular bone the results were expressed as hydroxyapatite densities (HA/cm3). To obtain these, the European forearm phantom28 (containing standardised amounts of 50, 100, and 200 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite) was regularly measured during the study and the bone densities converted to hydroxyapatite densities. Precision of the pQCT system is 0.3% relative to normal bone densities in the case of trabecular bone and 1% in the case of compact bone. DXA (Lunar DPX-L scanner, Lunar Corporation, Madison, Wisconsin, USA) was used to measure BMD (mg/cm2) of the lumbar spine in an anterior-posterior direction, evaluating a mixture of cortical and trabecular bone. To obtain standardised results the European spine phantom29 (containing standardised amounts of 50, 100, and 200 mg/cm3 hydroxyapatite) was continuously measured during the study. Precision of the DXA system was 1% relative to normal BMD values.

    All the measurements were performed at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Zurich. All scans were performed under ‘blinded’ conditions. In patients prescribed a course of oral steroids the bone scan was performed four weeks after the course was completed.

    Subjects were issued with a mini Wright peak flow meter and shown how to complete daily record cards of morning and evening peak expiratory flow (PEF). These diary cards were completed before taking study medication, every day during the last two weeks of the run in period and thereafter during the two weeks preceding each clinic visit. Lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second, FEV1) was measured at each clinic visit and patients were asked not to use any salbutamol for at least four hours beforehand. Where possible, FEV1 assessments were made at the same time of day, preferably in the morning, with the highest of three values being recorded.

    Adverse events and any changes in concurrent medication were recorded at every clinic visit. An oropharyngeal assessment to test for the presence of oral candidiasis was performed at all clinic visits during treatment.

    ANALYSIS OF DATA

    Taking the standard deviation of 1.55 for percentage change in trabecular BMD obtained in a previous pQCT study,30 92 evaluable subjects (23 per treatment group) were required to ensure a power of 80% to detect a 1.3% difference between treatments in change from baseline.

    Analysis was performed on the intent-to-treat population. The primary safety parameter was BMD of the distal radius measured using pQCT.

    Differences between treatments in changes from baseline in BMD of trabecular, total, and compact bone as measured by pQCT and BMD of lumbar vertebrae as measured by DXA were analysed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Similar methods of analysis were applied to bone markers. All statistical tests performed were two sided with p values of 0.05 considered significant.

    Z scores, representing the number of standard deviations above or below the statistical mean of a reference population (Rüegsegger, data on file) taking into account age and sex, were calculated and summarised for BMD of trabecular, total, and compact bone of the radius and tibia.

    No formal analysis was applied to serum cortisol, daily diary card data (PEF, symptoms scores or use of additional bronchodilator), or clinic lung function data.

    Results

    SUBJECT CHARACTERISTICS

    Of the 69 subjects randomised to treatment, 43 were assigned to the low dose comparison group (22 to FP400, 21 to BDP800) and 26 to the high dose comparison group (13 to FP750, 13 BDP1500). Demographic and baseline characteristics were well matched in patients in both treatment comparisons (table 1). The age range was 22–55 years with a mean age of 39 years and a preponderance of men (67%). All the women were premenopausal. No patient had a family history of fracture or vertebral crush or wedge fractures. One patient had suffered a wrist fracture and seven patients reported other fractures, none of them of the femoral neck. Patients in the low dose comparison had used on average 745 μg/day inhaled corticosteroid during the previous 12 months and patients in the high dose group had taken approximately 1260 mg/day.

    View this table:
    Table 1

    Baseline characteristics

    Four subjects were withdrawn from the study, one from each of the four treatment groups. Reasons for withdrawal were as follows: adverse event and non-compliance (BDP 1500 μg/day and BDP 800 μg/day, respectively); no reason specified (FP 400 μg/day and FP 750 μg/day).

    Four patients required a short course of oral corticosteroid during the study for the treatment of an asthma exacerbation (one taking BDP 800 μg/day, two taking FP 750 μg/day, and one taking BDP 1500 μg/day).

    BONE MINERAL DENSITY

    There was no significant difference in change from baseline in BMD of the distal radius measured using pQCT for either of the two treatment comparisons at six or 12 months. Overall, the results of pQCT measurement showed that, compared with baseline values, there was no loss of trabecular or integral bone in the radius or tibia in any of the patients over the 12 month study period (table 2). While some negative changes were recorded in the median bone density of compact bone of the radius (patients taking FP 750 μg/day) and tibia (patients taking BDP 800 μg/day and FP 750 μg/day), none of these changes exceeded –2% which suggests that the results were not clinically significant.

    View this table:
    Table 2

    Radial and tibial distal bone mineral density (BMD) measurements

    From the non-parametric analyses, the only result of borderline significance was derived from the high dose comparison of compact bone density of the radius at 12 months (p = 0.048) in patients taking FP 750 μg/day and BDP 1500 μg/day (table 2). While the decrease in bone density was greater in patients taking FP 750 μg/day, negative changes in bone density were recorded in just three of the 12 patients taking that dose of FP and none of the changes was greater than –1%. It is therefore likely that the result was of statistical but not clinical significance.

    The results for the pQCT measurement at baseline and after 12 months of treatment are expressed as Z scores—that is, in terms of standard deviations above or below the predicted normal value for patients of the comparable age and sex (table 3). Mean baseline Z scores were at or near normal for all groups with little change after 12 months of treatment.

    View this table:
    Table 3

    Radial and tibial distal bone mineral density (BMD) measurements expressed as mean (SD) Z scores

    Statistical analyses of the changes from baseline in bone density of DXA lumbar vertebrae showed no differences between either of the two treatment comparisons at six months (table 4), nor was there any difference at 12 months between patients taking FP or BDP in the high dose comparison. In the low dose comparison, however, there was evidence of a statistically significant difference between treatments, patients taking BDP 800 μg/day showing a negative change from baseline compared with those taking FP 400 μg/day (table 4).

    View this table:
    Table 4

    Bone mineral density (g/cm2) of lumbar spine

    In addition, there was no significant difference in the median change from baseline in bone mineral content of the lumbar spine for either of the two treatment comparisons (low and high dose groups) at six and 12 months.

    BONE MARKER DATA

    The median baseline values in each treatment group and the normal range of the serum and urine markers of bone metabolism are shown in table 5. With the exception of the bone resorption marker urine phosphate, all median baseline values for all parameters were within the normal range in all treatment groups. Several patients had low baseline values for bone resorption markers (table 5), but these reductions were not correlated with any changes in bone formation markers nor were they clinically significant.

    View this table:
    Table 5

    Biochemical markers of bone formation and resorption

    No consistent pattern emerged from the analysis of changes from baseline in markers of bone formation and resorption after six and 12 months of treatment. In the low dose comparison, a statistically significant difference in the change from baseline in osteocalcin at 12 months (p = 0.047) suggested lower bone formation activity in patients taking BDP 800 μg/day than in those taking FP 400 μg/day. Likewise, in the high dose comparison a statistically significant difference from baseline in the bone resorption marker ICTP at six months (p = 0.031) suggested greater bone resorption activity in patients taking FP 750 μg/day than in those taking BDP 1500 μg/day. Nevertheless, absolute and percentage changes from baseline for each bone marker in each patient offered no evidence of any clinically significant changes.

    LUNG FUNCTION

    No formal statistical analysis was performed on the lung function data. However, mean daily morning and evening PEF values taken for two weeks before each clinic visit and mean FEV1 values taken at bimonthly intervals throughout the 12 month study showed that the patients were well controlled on all treatments. Mean values either remained similar or tended to increase slightly above baseline values.

    SAFETY

    Adverse events were reported by a similar number of patients in both treatment groups. Overall, the adverse event profile was highly comparable between the two treatment groups and the events themselves were not unexpected in this group of patients. The most common events were infections of the upper respiratory tract and rhinitis. There were no reports of serious adverse events and the only withdrawal was due to pregnancy (one patient taking BDP 1500 μg/day). The only predictable adverse event was hoarseness/dysphonia reported by three patients (one in each of the FP400, BDP800, and FP750 groups). There were no reports of allergic skin reactions, oral candidiasis, or rash/skin eruptions.

    There were few reports of asthma exacerbations during the study. As expected, the incidence of exacerbations was slightly higher in the patients with more severe asthma in the high dose comparison. Nevertheless, the exacerbation rate was not statistically different between treatments. There was nothing to suggest that any of the study treatments had any effect on laboratory data or vital signs. Additionally, irrespective of treatment or dose, all geometric mean cortisol values remained within the normal range throughout the 12 month study period (table 6).

    View this table:
    Table 6

    Morning geometric mean serum cortisol concentrations (nmol/l)

    Discussion

    The results of this study in a specific population of asthmatic patients provide reassuring prospective one year data indicating a lack of any effect of low and high doses of inhaled corticosteroids on bone mass and bone metabolism. Regular use of FP (400 μg/day and 750 μg/day) or BDP (800 μg/day and 1500 μg /day) over a 12 month period in patients aged 20–55 years with expected peak bone mass had no clinically significant effect on bone density or bone metabolism. The study also provided no evidence of any important differences between FP 400 μg and BDP 800 μg or between FP 750 μg and BDP 1500 μg daily. In addition, all treatments were well tolerated and mean morning cortisol concentrations remained within normal limits throughout the study in both the low and high dose groups. Lung function data showed that asthma was consistently well controlled in all patients, irrespective of treatment group, with a correspondingly low rate of asthma exacerbations.

    A few isolated statistically significant differences were detected in the secondary safety parameters but these followed no consistent pattern and are unlikely to be of any clinical consequence. At 12 months bone density of the lumbar spine and osteocalcin were reduced in patients taking BDP 800 μg and compact bone density of the proximal radius was reduced in patients taking FP 750 μg; ICTP absorption activity was greater at six months. However, these were isolated changes and should be interpreted with caution given the large number of statistical tests performed.

    The findings of the present study largely concur with those of another recent longitudinal study involving 306 patients treated for six months with FP in doses of 500, 750, or 1000 μg/day or BDP in doses of 1000, 1500, or 2000 μg/day.18 The study recorded improved osteocalcin levels and, interestingly, even improved bone mineral densities in the spine, femoral neck and Ward's triangle, suggesting higher bone formation in the patients on FP than in those on BDP. Markers of bone resorption were similar with both treatments. These findings were in accordance with a second study involving 21 adults treated with BDP 1500 μg/day or FP 750 μg/day for six weeks.15 In comparison with these two studies we were unable to detect such a consistent pattern with regard to the effects of FP and BDP on bone markers and bone mineral density.

    While there are considerable data on the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on bone density,31 the data tend to be inconsistent largely as a result of differences in the methodology of the studies involved. In some cases the primary assessment parameter has been biochemical markers of bone metabolism, in others it has been bone densitometry. The most useful biochemical markers, however, remain to be defined,15 ,16 as does their relevance to changes in bone mass, particularly long term.8 ,17 Moreover, the results of many studies have been flawed through failure to control factors likely to affect bone density, principally past use of oral steroids, age, hormonal status, and diet.

    The present study was designed to address some of the shortcomings of previous research. The study was conducted in patients of a specific age range with expected peak bone mass (men 20–55 years, women 20–45 years (all premenopausal)). Patients who had used more than three short courses of systemic oral corticosteroids in the last year or within the last eight weeks were excluded. Bone density was assessed by means of two complementary techniques, pQCT and DXA, selected because they measure different types of bone (trabecular, cortical and integral) at various anatomical sites. pQCT was particularly valuable since it enabled a separate measurement of trabecular bone which is the type of bone most affected by the osteopenic effects of corticosteroids.32 DXA is a widely used technique for measurement of the lumbar spine.

    One limitation of the present study is that it did not control for the effects of physical activity on bone density in the different patient groups. While immobilisation was a specific reason for exclusion, it is likely that the degree and duration of the asthma suffered by most of the patients (longer than 12 years) may well have restricted their physical activity. The degree of restriction, however, was probably comparable across all treatment groups, given that exercise induced asthma was recorded in 68% of the participants and in a similar proportion in each treatment group.

    A further limitation of the study is that, while it reached the desired statistical power by virtue of 23 patients randomised to each treatment regimen in the low dose comparison, insufficient patients were recruited into the high dose comparison. The analysis of the high dose group of patients was therefore underpowered so that no firm conclusions can be drawn from it. However, there were no obvious trends or consistent patterns to the data to indicate any cause for concern in the high dose group.

    The determinants of corticosteroid induced osteoporosis are not completely understood.32 Individual or genetic susceptibility to bone loss and baseline bone density prior to treatment with oral or inhaled steroids may well influence any changes in bone density seen.31

    However, this study provides reassuring prospective one year data showing that inhaled corticosteroids, in the range of doses used, had no adverse effects on bone mass and metabolism in this group of asthmatic patients.

    Acknowledgments

    The authors would like to thank the following investigators and their staff for their participation in this study: Dr H P Anderhub, Dr P Berg, Dr R Bezel, Dr M Ermanni, Dr M Heitz, Dr U Honegger, Dr E Imhof, Dr U Lagler, Dr P Langloh, Dr A Zullig. Volumatic™ is a trademark of the Glaxo Wellcome group of companies.

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    Footnotes

    • Funding: This study was sponsored by a grant from Glaxo Wellcome Research and Development, UK.

    • Conflict of interest: none.