title: Effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonism in the postoperative management of chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Montelukast is used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma. It has been used as adjuvant therapy in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), but its effectiveness has not been evaluated. This study evaluates the efficacy of adjuvant leukotriene receptor antagonism in CRS and subtypes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of collected data at a tertiary-referral institution. We identified all patients who were prescribed montelukast postoperatively and had a lapse in therapy for at least 1 month (n = 50), so that the patients themselves serve as their own control group. Twenty-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-20) scores and Lund-Kennedy endoscopy scores were obtained for each patient. Scores were compared with and without montelukast using Wilcoxon signed rank test. The analysis was controlled for changes in other medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-two therapy lapses were identified in 50 patients. Twenty-seven patients had eosinophilic CRS with polyps (eCRSwNP), 8 had Samter's triad (ST), and 15 had allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS). Overall mean follow-up was 46.5 months. Overall, SNOT-20 scores and endoscopy scores were significantly lower with montelukast (p < 0.005 for both). On subgroup analysis, SNOT-20 scores were significantly improved for patients with eCRSwNP and AFS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). Endoscopy scores were significantly improved for patients with eCRSwNP (p = 0.044). Outcomes approached, but did not reach, significance for patients with ST (p = 0.123 for SNOT-20 and p = 0.146 for endoscopy). There was also significant improvements in patients with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of montelukast as postoperative therapy may be beneficial for patients with eCRSwNP and AFS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Joshua C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Yelverton
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Hospital General de Medellin, Medellin, Colombia.
authors.forename: Camilo Reyes
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Gelves
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, GA.
authors.forename: Stilianos E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Kountakis
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011804:Quinolines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012225:Rhinoplasty; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D013440:Sulfides; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D011804:Quinolines; D013440:Sulfides; C093875:montelukast
keywords: leukotriene receptor antagonist; montelukast; postoperative outcomes; rhinosinusitis; sinusitis