Effects of pranlukast hydrate on airway hyperresponsiveness in non-asthmatic patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis.
BACKGROUND
Recent studies have suggested that allergic rhinitis is closely related to bronchial asthma, reflecting the "one airway-one disease" hypothesis. It is unclear if the effects of pranlukast, a leukotriene-receptor antagonist, are consistent with this hypothesis.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the study was to determine if pranlukast has effects on the upper and lower airways through a comparison of the effects of fexofenadine and pranlukast on airway hyperresponsiveness in non-asthmatic patients with cedar pollinosis before the Japanese cedar pollen season and during the peak pollen season.


METHODS
Patients received fexofenadine hydrochloride plus oral mequitazine (fexofenadine group) or pranlukast hydrate plus oral mequitazine (pranlukast group) as an initial treatment. Subsequent changes in airway responsiveness to acetylcholine were measured.


RESULTS
Among patients in whom coughing developed during the peak pollen season, airway responsiveness significantly increased in the fexofenadine group. In the pranlukast group, airway responsiveness did not increase significantly, regardless of the presence or absence of coughing.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that pranlukast hydrate inhibits airway hyperresponsiveness in non-asthmatic patients with Japanese cedar pollinosis. In turn, this suggests that cysteinyl leukotrienes have a role in increased airway responsiveness.
Sagara
Hironori
H
Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Dokkyo Medical University School of Medicine, Tochigi, Japan. h-sagara@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Yukawa
Tatsuo
T
Kashima
Ryuichi
R
Okada
Takenori
T
Fukuda
Takeshi
T
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D029780:Chamaecyparis / Q000276:immunology; D002867:Chromones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003371:Cough / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D032485:Cryptomeria / Q000276:immunology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D002867:Chromones; D010640:Phenothiazines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D016593:Terfenadine; C093230:fexofenadine; D000109:Acetylcholine; C047681:pranlukast; C006069:mequitazine