Effect of zafirlukast on methacholine and ultrasonically nebulized distilled water challenge in patients with mild asthma.
BACKGROUND
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness due to the release of multiple mediators, such as cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs).


OBJECTIVE
Our study was designed to investigate whether oral pretreatment with zafirlukast (a cys-LTs receptor antagonist) reduces bronchoconstriction against methacholine (MC) and ultrasonically nebulized distilled water (UNDW) challenge in patients with mild asthma.


METHODS
Fourteen non-atopic patients (8 males, 20-42 years, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) 97% SD +/- 0.4) with mild, intermittent bronchial asthma performed a sequential weekly pulmonary function test following challenge with MC or UNDW 2 h after zafirlukast or placebo administration, according to a single-blind method.


RESULTS
We found that pretreatment with zafirlukast significantly decreased bronchoconstriction MC (maximum FEV(1) drop -10.75% SD +/- 1.89, p < 0.001) and UNDW induced (maximum FEV(1) drop -12% SD +/- 0.15, p < 0.001), while pretreatment with placebo did not protect patients against FEV(1) drop following MC (maximum FEV(1) drop -33.22% SD +/- 1.42, p < 0.001) and UNDW challenge (maximum FEV(1) drop -30.02% SD +/- 0.4, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreatment with zafirlukast significantly reduced bronchoconstriction against MC and UNDW challenge in individuals with mild intermittent asthma, indicating that cys-LTs receptor antagonists might be useful as preventive therapy in these patients population.
Carratù
P
P
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN 38163, USA. pierocarratu@yahoo.com
Morelli
N
N
Freire
A X
AX
Pugazhenthi
M
M
Guerra
S
S
Umberger
R
R
Allegra
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007211:Indoles; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D048448:Phenylcarbamates; D013449:Sulfonamides; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C062735:zafirlukast