Augmentation of bronchodilator responsiveness by leukotriene modifiers in Puerto Rican and Mexican children.
BACKGROUND
Ethnic-specific interactions between different asthma medications are not well described.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the use of leukotriene modifiers is associated with the magnitude of bronchodilator responsiveness among Mexican American and Puerto Rican children with persistent asthma.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study of 84 Mexican American and 192 Puerto Rican children, with persistent asthma who were aged 8 to 16 years. Within each group, bronchodilator responsiveness to albuterol, objectively assessed via spirometry, was compared between participants using leukotriene modifiers and those not using leukotriene modifiers.


RESULTS
Leukotriene modifier use was associated with a clinically significant increase in percentage change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 11.8 (P < .001) in Puerto Rican children, but there was no significant change in percentage change in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (-3.2, P=.57) in Mexican American children. This finding persisted after controlling for the use of inhaled corticosteroids. In addition, among the Puerto Rican children, the association between leukotriene modifier use and augmented bronchodilator responsiveness was greatest in those younger than 12 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Among children with persistent asthma, use of leukotriene modifiers is associated with augmented bronchodilator responsiveness to albuterol in Puerto Ricans, but not Mexican Americans. This ethnic-specific, drug-drug interaction highlights the need for the further understanding of asthma pharmacogenetics among children from different ethnic groups to improve asthma outcomes.
Tcheurekdjian
Haig
H
Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA. haig.tcheurekdjian@gmail.com
Thyne
Shannon M
SM
Williams
L Keoki
LK
Via
Marc
M
Rodriguez-Santana
Jose R
JR
Rodriguez-Cintron
William
W
Avila
Pedro C
PC
Burchard
Esteban González
EG
D000293:Adolescent; D000420:Albuterol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D017058:Mexican Americans; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D000420:Albuterol