Observational study of the additive effects of pranlukast on inflammatory markers of clinically stable asthma with inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta 2 agonists.
BACKGROUND
Little is understood about the additive effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) on asthmatics currently medicated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta(2)-agonists (LABA).


OBJECTIVE
The present study examines the anti-inflammatory effects of the LTRA pranlukast in addition to ICS and LABA, among asthmatic patients with normal pulmonary function and unremarkable clinical symptoms.


METHODS
Fifteen adult asthmatics participated in a 2-month, open-label, uncontrolled, prospective, multicenter, observational trial. Patients stabilized (predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s >80%) by medication with ICS and LABA were also given pranlukast (450 mg daily). Asthma-related symptoms, pulmonary function, blood eosinophil counts and several inflammatory markers in sputum were monitored at week 0, as well as at 4 and 8 weeks after starting therapy with pranlukast.


RESULTS
Adding pranlukast did not further improve blood eosinophil counts, pulmonary function and symptoms, but significantly attenuated sputum cysteinyl leukotrienes, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-5 concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the clinical relevance remains obscure, adding an LTRA attenuates allergic airway inflammation in some asthmatics undergoing treatment with ICS and LABA.
Tomari
Shinya
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Sasebo City General Hospital, Sasebo, Japan.
Matsuse
Hiroto
H
Hirose
Hiroko
H
Tsuchida
Tomoko
T
Fukahori
Susumu
S
Fukushima
Chizu
C
Kawano
Tetsuya
T
Matsuo
Nobuko
N
Kohno
Shigeru
S
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002867:Chromones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D002867:Chromones; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; C047681:pranlukast