SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2007

September 25, 2007

Budesonide in breast milk

Summary
Background - Maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) is frequently required by asthmatic women who are also nursing their infants. Does such ICS used by the mother get into breast milk to a degree where it may adversely affect the infant?

Findings - Falt et al assessed budesonide (Bud) concentrations in breast milk and blood plasma of nursing women being treated with inhaled Bud (200-400 mcg b.i.d.).

Breast milk Bud levels reflected that in maternal plasma with the average milk/plasma Bud ratio of about 0.45. The estimated Bud dose ingested daily by the infant was about 0.3% of the daily maternal dose. Bud levels in the infant plasma were below the quantifiable limit.

The authors concluded that maintenance inhaled Bud treatment of 200-400 mcg b.i.d. results in a negligible exposure of their nursing infants to Bud.

Reference
J Allergy Clin Immunol 9/6/07, E pub

Editor's Comments
These findings are fairly reassuring for asthmatic women who wish to nurse their infants. Of course, one cannot yet say whether the same reassurance applies in the small minority of asthmatic women who need sizably higher doses of ICS for asthma control.

 

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