Effects of pranlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, on airway inflammation in mild asthmatics.
To determine the anti-inflammatory actions of pranlukast, a cysteinyl leuklotriene receptor antagonist, we measured exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and eosinophil ratio in induced sputum of three groups of mild asthmatics (n = 30): treated with bronchodilators alone, with bronchodilators and inhaled steroid (beclomethasone dipropionate; 400 microg/day), and bronchodilators and pranlukast (450 mg/day). Pranlukast (450 mg/day) reduced the eosinophil ratio in the induced sputum significantly (p < 0.01) without a major effect on the concentration of exhaled NO. Pranlukast also increased values of peak expiratory flow significantly (p < 0.05). Pranlukast may be useful for mild asthmatics, in part through its ability to suppress eosinophilic airway infiltration.
The Third Department of Internal Medicine, Iwate Medical University, School of Medicine, Morioka, Japan.
K
K
Yamauchi
Y
Y
Tanifuji
L H
LH
Pan
T
T
Yoshida
S
S
Sakurai
S
S
Goto
S
S
Kuroda
H
H
Kobayashi
H
H
Inoue
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002867:Chromones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D002867:Chromones; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; C047681:pranlukast