Background: Little is understood about the additive effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) on asthmatics currently medicated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABA).
Objectives: The present study examines the anti-inflammatory effects of the LTRA pranlukast in addition to ICS and LABA, among asthmatic patients with normal pulmonary function and unremarkable clinical symptoms.
Methods: Fifteen adult asthmatics participated in a 2-month, open-label, uncontrolled, prospective, multicenter, observational trial. Patients stabilized (predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s >80%) by medication with ICS and LABA were also given pranlukast (450 mg daily). Asthma-related symptoms, pulmonary function, blood eosinophil counts and several inflammatory markers in sputum were monitored at week 0, as well as at 4 and 8 weeks after starting therapy with pranlukast.
Results: Adding pranlukast did not further improve blood eosinophil counts, pulmonary function and symptoms, but significantly attenuated sputum cysteinyl leukotrienes, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-5 concentrations.
Conclusions: Although the clinical relevance remains obscure, adding an LTRA attenuates allergic airway inflammation in some asthmatics undergoing treatment with ICS and LABA.
(c) 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel.