Pranlukast reduces asthma exacerbations during autumn especially in 1- to 5-year-old boys.
BACKGROUND
Leukotriene receptor antagonists have been used to prevent virus-induced asthma exacerbations in autumn. Its efficacy, however, might differ with age and sex.


OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate whether pranlukast added to usual asthma therapy in Japanese children during autumn, season associated with the peak of asthma, reduces asthma exacerbations. It was also evaluated the effect of age and sex on pranlukast's efficacy.


METHODS
A total of 121 asthmatic children aged 1 to 14 years were randomly assigned to receive regular pranlukast or not according to sex, and were divided in 2 age groups, 1-5 years and 6-14 years. The primary outcome was total asthma score calculated during 8 weeks by using a sticker calendar related to the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms. This open study lasted 60 days from September 15 to November 14, 2007.


RESULTS
Significant differences in pranlukast efficacy were observed between sex and age groups. Boys aged 1 to 5 years had the lower total asthma score at 8 weeks (p= 0.002), and experienced fewer cold episodes (p= 0.007). There were no significant differences between pranlukast and control group in total asthma score at 8 weeks (p= 0.35), and in the days in which a child experienced a worsening of asthma symptoms (p= 0.67).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a substantial benefit of adding pranlukast to usual therapy in asthmatic children, especially in boys aged 1 to 5 years, during autumn season.
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.; Department of Pediatrics, Chiba Kaihin Municipal Hospital, Chiba 261-0012, Japan.
Yoshinori
Y
Morita
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
Eduardo
E
Campos Alberto
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.; Department of Pediatrics, Shimoshizu National Hospital, Chiba 284-0003, Japan.
Shuichi
S
Suzuki
Satou Clinic, Arao 864-0041, Japan.
Yoshinori
Y
Sato
Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Chiba Children's Hospital, Chiba 266-0007, Japan.
Akira
A
Hoshioka
Abe Hiroki Children's Clinic, Chiba 264-0028, Japan.
Hiroki
H
Abe
Sunrise Children's Clinic, Chiba 273-0035, Japan.
Kimiyuki
K
Saito
Tsubaki Children's Clinic, Chiba 260-0001, Japan.
Toshikazu
T
Tsubaki
Mana Children's Clinic, Chiba 266-0032, Japan.
Mana
M
Haraki
Katsuyama Clinic, Chiba 299-2117, Japan.
Akiko
A
Sawa
Nakayama Clinic, Chiba 275-0021, Japan.
Yoshio
Y
Nakayama
Higashi Koiwa Wanpaku Clinic, Tokyo 133-0052, Japan.
Hiroyuki
H
Kojima
Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Chiba Medical Center, Chiba 260-8606, Japan.
Midori
M
Shigeta
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
Fumiya
F
Yamaide
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.; Chiba Rosai Hospital, Ichihara 290-0003, Japan.
Yoichi
Y
Kohno
Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
Naoki
N
Shimojo
Age; Asthma; Child; Exacerbations; Pranlukast; Sex