Benefits and complications of troleandomycin (TAO) in young children with steroid‐dependent asthma

In nine children with steroid‐dependent asthma, ranging in age from 2 and 11/12 to 14 and 4/12 years, troleandomycin (TAO) was administered at a dose of 250 mg po QD or BID, along with oral methylprednisolone. Both medications were then rapidly changed to a QOD schedule. Baseline daily steroid dosage requirements decreased from 15.3 ± 9.1 mg methylprednisolone to 1.4 ± 0.7 mg (P < 0.01, paired t‐test), and the number of steroid bursts (1–2 mg/kg/day) per year decreased from 12.2 ± 4.8 to 4.1 ± 2.0 (P < 0.01, paired t‐test). There was also a significant decrease in the number of hospitalizations per year from 3.4 ± 4.6 to 0.6 ± 0.7 (P < 0.05, paired t‐test). The incidence of steroid side effects increased, despite the decrease in the amount of steroid required. Specifically, the prevalence of cataracts increased from 11% to 33% (χ² = 4.5, P = 0.15) and the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia increased from 22% to 78% (χ² = 16.67, P < 0.001). There was no elevation of serum transaminases in any of our patients on TAO. Although TAO appears to be efficacious, caution is warranted when TAO is considered for use in younger children with steroid‐dependent asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol 1991;10:178–182.