The Efficacy of Added Montelukast in Persistent Asthmatics Who Were Not Completely Controlled on Inhaled Corticosteroids and Inhaled Long-acting beta2-agonists. |
Jeong Hee Choi, Hae Sim Park, Kwan Ho Lee, Jae Jeong Shim, Soo Taek Uh, Sang Pyo Lee, Yong Chul Lee, Won Il Choi, Joo In Kim, Jae Ho Lee, Myung Goo Lee, Ki Suck Jung |
1Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Korea. pulmoks@hallym.or.kr 2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Ajou Univerity, Korea. 3Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Korea. 4Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea Universitiy, Korea. 5Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Soonchunhyang University, Korea. 6Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Gachon University, Korea. 7Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Korea. 8Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Keimyung University, Korea. 9Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Korea. 10Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Inje University, Korea. |
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Abstract |
BACKGROUNDS Although glucocorticoids are one of the most potent anti-inflammatory agents, they have limited effect on cysteinyl leukotriene biosynthesis. In addition, the response to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) combination therapy in moderate to severe persistent asthmatics varies. Additional therapy with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) in patients with moderate to severe asthma suboptimally controlled with ICS and LABA combination therapy would be complementary to asthma control. METHODS: One hundred and ninety eight asthmatics entered a 2 month, open-label descriptive study. Patients suffering from persistent asthma and suboptimally controlled on a combination therapy of fluticasone/salmeterol or budesonide/ formoterol were given montelukast 10 mg daily as an add-on therapy. The level of asthma control was assessed using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) including FEV(1) % predicted at the baseline and after a 2-month treatment with montelukast. A global evaluation of the treatment was also made by the patients and physicians. RESULTS: The mean ACQ score decreased significantly on montelukast (11.5+/-5.4 at baseline vs. 6.7+/-5.0), with a significant improvement in all individual symptom scores (p<0.01). The FEV(1) % predicted values did not show any significant change. 59.9% of patients and 59.4% of physicians reported global improvement in their asthma (kappa=0.85). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the addition of montelukast in patients with persistent asthma that is suboptimally contolled by combination therapy of ICS and LABA might confer complementary effects on asthma control. |
Key Words:
Asthma control, Inhaled glucocorticosteroid, Long-acting inhaled beta2-agonist, Montelukast |
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