Review of recent results of montelukast use as a monotherapy in children with mild asthma.
BACKGROUND
Asthma is a chronic disease with a heterogeneous phenotype that is often associated with allergic sensitization in childhood. The earliest definable form of asthma is mild (intermittent or persistent), a severity level that may be characteristic of a majority of children with asthma. Several asthma controllers are indicated for use in children. International guidelines recommend the use of inhaled corticosteroids as the preferred controller therapy in mild persistent asthma.


OBJECTIVE
This article reviewed recent results from randomized, double-blind studies of children with mild asthma treated with montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist that is approved for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis in children and adults.


METHODS
A literature search of MEDLINE was conducted to gather relevant, English-language articles using search terms such as randomized controlled studies, double-blind studies, montelukast, leukotriene receptor antagonist, pediatric asthma, mild asthma, exercise-induced asthma, and bronchoconstriction. Recent articles (since 1998) that described the use of montelukast as a monotherapy were chosen for this review.


RESULTS
Relevant studies included a 48-week, placebo-controlled study of 2- to 5-year-old mild intermittent asthmatics (N = 549); a 12-week, placebo-controlled study of 2- to 5-year-old mild persistent asthmatics (N = 689); an analysis of a mild persistent asthmatic cohort (N = 138) from an 8-week, placebo-controlled study of 6- to 14-year-old asthmatics; a 12-month study comparing montelukast with fluticasone in 6- to 14-year-old mild persistent asthmatics (N = 949); and 3 placebo-controlled studies in children with exercise-induced asthma (N = 123). The results from these studies, encompassing end points measuring lung function and symptoms, found that montelukast provided effective and beneficial asthma control to children aged 2 to 14 years with mild asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence suggests that montelukast is an effective monotherapy controller in children with mild asthma.
Wahn
Ulrich
U
Charité Universitätsmedizin, Department for Pediatric Pneumology and Immunology, Berlin, Germany. ulrich.wahn@charite.de
Dass
S Balachandra
SB
D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001250:Asthma, Exercise-Induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000188:drug therapy; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013440:Sulfides
D000085:Acetates; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; C093875:montelukast