title: Montelukast as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids in the management of asthma (the SAS trial).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of montelukast as add-on therapy for asthmatic patients who remain uncontrolled with low, moderate or high doses of inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  An eight-week, multicentre, open-label, observational study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 320 patients enrolled, 288 (90.0%) completed the study. Of patients who had uncontrolled asthma symptoms (Canadian Asthma Consensus Guidelines Update, 2003) but were controlled according to the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ score of less than 1.5), 93.9% maintained asthma control at week 8. Of patients with uncontrolled asthma at baseline for both definitions, 63.5% achieved asthma control by week 8. The mean +/- SD ACQ score decreased from 1.13+/-0.28 to 0.57+/-0.50 (P<0.001) for controlled patients at baseline and from 2.38+/-0.73 to 1.03+/-0.80 (P<0.001) for patients who were uncontrolled at baseline, each representing a clinically significant improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Montelukast add-on therapy is an effective alternative to inhaled corticosteroid monotherapy.
authors: Respiratory Division, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors: J Mark
authors: JM
authors: FitzGerald
authors: Sylvain
authors: S
authors: Foucart
authors: Stephen
authors: S
authors: Coyle
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Sampalis
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Haine
authors: Eliofotisti
authors: E
authors: Psaradellis
authors: R Andrew
authors: RA
authors: McIvor
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013440:Sulfides; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; C093875:montelukast