Effect of budesonide and montelukast in asthmatic children exposed to relevant allergens.
BACKGROUND
Montelukast has been shown to be effective in controlling the increase in exhaled NO in asthmatic children re-exposed to house dust mite (HDM). This study compared the effect of low dose inhaled budesonide and oral montelukast in preventing the expected relapse of airway inflammation and reactivity in a group of 24 mild asthmatic children allergic to HDM after a brief period of exposure to relevant allergens.


METHODS
Lung function, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine (PC(20)), fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and sputum eosinophilia were evaluated.


RESULTS
Pulmonary function remained stable. The BHR was unchanged after exposure in the group treated with budesonide, whereas a significant increase (P = 0.028) was observed in the patients receiving montelukast. No significant difference was observed in FeNO levels after exposure to mite antigen in the two groups. In both the groups of asthmatic children we observed a significant increase in sputum eosinophil % after the exposure to mite antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant increase in BHR level observed in the group of children receiving montelukast suggests a more comprehensive effect as disease controller by inhaled steroids than by leukotriene antagonist in allergic asthmatic children re-exposed to relevant allergens.
Peroni
D
D
Clinica Pediatrica - Universita' di Verona, Italy.
Bodini
A
A
Miraglia Del Giudice
M
M
Loiacono
A
A
Baraldi
E
E
Boner
A L
AL
Piacentini
G
G
D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum; D013440:Sulfides
D000085:Acetates; D000485:Allergens; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019819:Budesonide; C093875:montelukast