Heterogeneity in response to asthma medications.
OBJECTIVE
Evidence for the heterogeneity of response to asthma medications including inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists is mounting. beta2-Adrenoceptor gene polymorphisms may contribute to asthma responsiveness to short- and long-acting beta2-agonists. This review examines recent articles describing variability in response to inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene receptor antagonists and short-acting beta2-agonists specifically in pediatric persistent asthmatics.


RESULTS
In the late 1990's, differences in the response to a leukotriene receptor antagonist and an inhaled corticosteroid in adults with moderate persistent asthma were first described. Subsequently, similar findings have recently been elucidated in children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. The variability in response to these two classes of control medicines now appears to encompass all ages with persistent asthma. In general, despite the variability in response to these medications, both resulted in improved clinical and physiologic control measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood asthma is a complex disease with numerous clinical phenotypes that contribute to response variability to asthma medications.
Tamesis
Grace P
GP
Divisions of Allergy-Clinical Immunology, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA.
Krawiec
Marzena E
ME
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000819:agonists; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D015289:Leukotrienes; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2