title: Placebo-controlled study with OHIO chamber of prophylactic pranlukast for children with Japanese cedar pollinosis: TOPIC-J III study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This double-blind, placebo-controlled comparative study was designed to investigate whether pranlukast dry syrup, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, has a protective effect against priming, controlled pollen exposure, and natural pollen exposure in children with Japanese cedar pollinosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty children aged 12-15 years with Japanese cedar pollinosis (positive skin test for Japanese cedar pollen), who had suffered from pollinosis for at least 2 years and developed severe nasal obstruction when exposed to Japanese cedar pollen, were enrolled in this study. They were randomly allocated to treatment with pranlukast or placebo orally after breakfast and dinner for 8 weeks during the Japanese cedar pollen season. Soon after the start of the pollen season, all subjects underwent a challenge by exposure for 3 h to Japanese cedar pollen (8000 grains/m(3)) in an artificial exposure chamber (OHIO chamber).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The University Hospital Medical Information Network in Japan (UMIN000009840).
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of pranlukast was evaluated using self-rating of nasal symptoms by the subjects and measurement of eosinophil cationic protein in nasal discharge specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Scores for the symptoms of pollinosis were lower in the pranlukast group than in the placebo group during treatment in the priming state, as well as after controlled pollen exposure and natural pollen exposure. Pranlukast significantly improved the score for nasal obstruction, compared with placebo. A correlation was found between changes of the scores for symptoms of pollinosis and changes of the eosinophil cationic protein level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results confirm a protective effect of pranlukast against both priming and challenge (controlled and natural) with Japanese cedar pollen. The present findings suggested that pranlukast dry syrup may be useful for prophylaxis against pollinosis in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nippon Medical School, TokyoJapan.
authors.forename: Kei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hosoya
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nippon Medical School, TokyoJapan.
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Masuno
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology, Futaba Clinic, TokyoJapan.
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashiguchi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nippon Medical School, TokyoJapan.
authors.forename: Kimihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okubo
keywords: Cedar pollinosis; Nasal symptoms; Pediatric patients; Pranlukast; Prophylactic therapy