The effect of montelukast on bronchial hyperreactivity in preschool children

Performance Characteristics of Spirometry With Negative Bronchodilator Response and Methacholine Challenge Testing and Implications for Asthma Diagnosis

BACKGROUND

In patients with a history suggestive of asthma, diagnosis is usually confirmed by spirometry with bronchodilator response (BDR) or confirmatory methacholine challenge testing (MCT).

RESEARCH QUESTION

We examined the proportion of participants with negative BDR testing who had a positive MCT (and its predictors) result and characteristics of MCT, including effects of controller medication tapering and temporal variability (and predictors of MCT result change), and concordance between MCT and pulmonologist asthma diagnosis.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Adults with self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma were recruited by random-digit dialing across Canada. Subjects performed spirometry with BDR testing and returned for MCT if testing was nondiagnostic for asthma. Subjects on controllers underwent medication tapering with serial MCTs over 3 to 6 weeks. Subjects with a negative MCT (the provocative concentration of methacholine that results in a 20% drop in FEV₁ [PC₂₀] > 8 mg/mL) off medications were examined by a pulmonologist and had serial MCTs after 6 and 12 months.

RESULTS

Of 500 subjects (50.5 ± 16.6 years old, 68.0% female) with a negative BDR test for asthma, 215 (43.0%) had a positive MCT. Subjects with prebronchodilator airflow limitation were more likely to have a positive MCT (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.17-3.04). MCT converted from negative to positive, with medication tapering in 18 of 94 (19.1%) participants, and spontaneously over time in 25 of 165 (15.2%) participants. Of 231 subjects with negative MCT, 28 (12.1%) subsequently received an asthma diagnosis from a pulmonologist.

INTERPRETATION

In subjects with a self-reported physician diagnosis of asthma, absence of bronchodilator reversibility had a negative predictive value of only 57% to exclude asthma. A finding of spirometric airflow limitation significantly increased chances of asthma. MCT results varied with medication taper and over time, and pulmonologists were sometimes prepared to give a clinical diagnosis of asthma despite negative MCT. Correspondingly, in patients for whom a high clinical suspicion of asthma exists, repeat testing appears to be warranted.

Individualized therapy for persistent asthma in young children

BACKGROUND

Phenotypic presentations in young children with asthma are varied and might contribute to differential responses to asthma controller medications.

METHODS

The Individualized Therapy for Asthma in Toddlers study was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy clinical trial in children aged 12 to 59 months (n = 300) with asthma necessitating treatment with daily controller (Step 2) therapy. Participants completed a 2- to 8-week run-in period followed by 3 crossover periods with daily inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), daily leukotriene receptor antagonists, and as-needed ICS treatment coadministered with albuterol. The primary outcome was differential response to asthma medication based on a composite measure of asthma control. The primary analysis involved 2 stages: determination of differential response and assessment of whether 3 prespecified features (aeroallergen sensitization, previous exacerbations, and sex) predicted a differential response.

RESULTS

Seventy-four percent (170/230) of children with analyzable data had a differential response to the 3 treatment strategies. Within differential responders, the probability of best response was highest for a daily ICS and was predicted by aeroallergen sensitization but not exacerbation history or sex. The probability of best response to daily ICS was further increased in children with both aeroallergen sensitization and blood eosinophil counts of 300/μL or greater. In these children daily ICS use was associated with more asthma control days and fewer exacerbations compared with the other treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

In young children with asthma necessitating Step 2 treatment, phenotyping with aeroallergen sensitization and blood eosinophil counts is useful for guiding treatment selection and identifies children with a high exacerbation probability for whom treatment with a daily ICS is beneficial despite possible risks of growth suppression.

Asthma phenotypes: the intriguing selective intervention with Montelukast

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, usually characterized by chronic airway inflammation and a variable course associated with various underlying mechanisms that can differ between individuals. Patients with asthma can therefore exhibit different phenotypes, a term used to define the observable characteristics of an organism resulting from the interaction between its genetic makeup and the environment. The heterogeneity of asthma has received a large amount of attention in the last few years in order to better tailor treatment according to the different clinical and biological phenotypes of the disease. Specific asthma phenotypes may require an approach to treatment sometimes different from that recommended by current guidelines, so a personalized approach to asthma pharmacotherapy is recommended. Growing evidence suggests that leukotrienes play an important role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. The mechanisms of action of leukotriene-receptor antagonists theoretically predict a good response in some asthma “phenotypes”.In this article we have performed an analysis of the recent literature (controlled clinical trials and real-life studies) about a possible selective intervention with Montelukast in specific asthma phenotypes.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma - 2016 update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This is an updated guideline for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of SINA is to have guidelines that are up to date, simple to understand and easy to use by nonasthma specialists, including primary care and general practice physicians. SINA approach is mainly based on symptom control and assessment of risk as it is the ultimate goal of treatment. The new SINA guidelines include updates of acute and chronic asthma management, with more emphasis on the use of asthma control in the management of asthma in adults and children, inclusion of a new medication appendix, and keeping consistency on the management at different age groups. The section on asthma in children is rewritten and expanded where the approach is stratified based on the age. The guidelines are constructed based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation in Saudi Arabia. There is also an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan.

Bacterial lysate increases the percentage of natural killer T cells in peripheral blood and alleviates asthma in children

AIMS

To assess the efficacy of conventional treatment combined with bacterial lysate [OM-85 Broncho-Vaxom (BV)] in the prevention of asthma in children as well as its influence on the number of natural killer T (NKT) cells and their cytokine production.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty children diagnosed with asthma were divided into either a BV-treated group (with oral OM-85 BV) or a conventional inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) group. The numbers of NKT cells and CD4+ NKT cells were measured in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry. The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 after the blood cells had been cultured with an NKT cell agonist were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

After therapy, asthma attacks were significantly decreased compared with before therapy in both groups. However, after therapy, respiratory tract infections were reduced compared with before therapy in the BV-treated group only. Additionally, the frequency of asthma attacks and use of antibiotics in the BV-treated group were lower than in the ICS group. With BV treatment, the numbers of peripheral blood NKT cells and CD4+ NKT cells were higher after therapy than before therapy. After therapy, the ratio of IFN-γ/IL-4 and IL-10 levels were increased in the BV-treated group, whereas IL-4 was reduced in the BV-treated group compared with the ICS group.

CONCLUSION

BV combined with conventional asthma treatment can prevent recurrent respiratory tract infections and suppress the severity of asthma attacks, possibly by altering the rates and cytokines of NKT cells.

Systematic review of montelukast's efficacy for preventing post-bronchiolitis wheezing

Infants often develop reactive airway diseases subsequent to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs), a class of lipid mediators that have been implicated in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis and asthma, are released during RSV infection, thereby contributing to the pathogenic changes in airway inflammation. Many pediatric patients, especially those of very young age, continue to have recurrent episodes of lower airway obstruction after bronchiolitis treatment. This study was to systematically review and assessed the efficacy of montelukast for preventing wheezing in patients with post-bronchiolitis. The Cochrane library, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) periodical databases were screened for studies related to use of montelukast for preventing post-bronchiolitis wheezing published up to 31 December 2012. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs using montelukast alone as an active intervention in infants up to 24 months of age with post-bronchiolitis were selected. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality using the recommendations published by the Cochrane Collaboration. The meta-analyses were performed using the Cochrane statistical package RevMan5.0.0. Four trials, containing 1430 infants with confirmed diagnosis of acute bronchiolitis, were analyzed. Patients were administered montelukast at post-bronchiolitis. Three trials showed no effects of montelukast on reducing the incidence of recurrent wheezing risk ratios (RR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.55-1.12, p = 0.17), while two trials found that montelukast did reduce the frequency of recurrent wheezing and another two trials demonstrated no effects of montelukast on symptom-free days. The pooled montelukast treatment group showed no significant effect on reducing the usage of corticosteroids, as compared to the placebo group (RR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.85-1.44, p = 0.45). Two trials showed that montelukast significantly decreased serum eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels, as compared to the control group. In general, the side effects of rash, vomiting, and insomnia caused by montelukast occurred in 1.5% of patients analyzed. The recent evidences indicate that montelukast may reduce the frequency of post-bronchiolitic wheezing without causing significant side effects but that it has no effects on decreasing incidences of recurrent wheezing, symptom-free days, or the associated usage of corticosteroid in post-bronchiolitis patients. The small number of enrolled participants and the inability to pool all clinical outcomes precludes us from making solid recommendations.

Childhood asthma: diagnosis and treatment

Many children suffer from recurrent coughing, wheezing and chest tightness. In preschool children one third of all children have these symptoms before the age of six, but only 40% of these wheezing preschoolers will continue to have asthma. In older school-aged children the majority of the children have asthma. Quality of life is affected by asthma control. Sleep disruption and exercised induced airflow limitation have a negative impact on participation in sports and social activities, and may influence family life. The goal of asthma therapy is to achieve asthma control, but only a limited number of patients are able to reach total control. This may be due to an incorrect diagnosis, co-morbidities or poor inhalation technique, but in the majority of cases non-adherence is the main reason for therapy failures. However, partnership with the parents and the child is important in order to set individually chosen goals of therapy and may be of help to improve control. Non-pharmacological measures aim at avoiding tobacco smoke, and when a child is sensitised, to avoid allergens. In pharmacological management international guidelines such as the GINA guideline and the British Guideline on the Management of Asthma are leading.

Airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma: mechanisms, clinical significance, and treatment

Airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and airway inflammation are key pathophysiological features of asthma. Bronchial provocation tests (BPTs) are objective tests for AHR that are clinically useful to aid in the diagnosis of asthma in both adults and children. BPTs can be either “direct” or “indirect,” referring to the mechanism by which a stimulus mediates bronchoconstriction. Direct BPTs refer to the administration of pharmacological agonist (e.g., methacholine or histamine) that act on specific receptors on the airway smooth muscle. Airway inflammation and/or airway remodeling may be key determinants of the response to direct stimuli. Indirect BPTs are those in which the stimulus causes the release of mediators of bronchoconstriction from inflammatory cells (e.g., exercise, allergen, mannitol). Airway sensitivity to indirect stimuli is dependent upon the presence of inflammation (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils), which responds to treatment with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). Thus, there is a stronger relationship between indices of steroid-sensitive inflammation (e.g., sputum eosinophils, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide) and airway sensitivity to indirect compared to direct stimuli. Regular treatment with ICS does not result in the complete inhibition of responsiveness to direct stimuli. AHR to indirect stimuli identifies individuals that are highly likely to have a clinical improvement with ICS therapy in association with an inhibition of airway sensitivity following weeks to months of treatment with ICS. To comprehend the clinical utility of direct or indirect stimuli in either diagnosis of asthma or monitoring of therapeutic intervention requires an understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of AHR and mechanisms of action of both stimuli.

The Saudi initiative for asthma - 2012 update: Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma in adults and children

This an updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma, developed by the Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) group, a subsidiary of the Saudi Thoracic Society. The main objective of SINA is to have updated guidelines, which are simple to understand and easy to use by non-asthma specialists, including primary care and general practice physicians. This new version includes updates of acute and chronic asthma management, with more emphasis on the use of Asthma Control Test in the management of asthma, and a new section on "difficult-to-treat asthma." Further, the section on asthma in children was re-written to cover different aspects in this age group. The SINA panel is a group of Saudi experts with well-respected academic backgrounds and experience in the field of asthma. The guidelines are formatted based on the available evidence, local literature, and the current situation in Saudi Arabia. There was an emphasis on patient-doctor partnership in the management that also includes a self-management plan. The approach adopted by the SINA group is mainly based on disease control as it is the ultimate goal of treatment.

Update on leukotriene receptor antagonists in preschool children wheezing disorders

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in young children. About 40% of all preschool children regularly wheeze during common cold infections. The heterogeneity of wheezing phenotypes early in life and various anatomical and emotional factors unique to young children present significant challenges in the clinical management of this problem. Anti-inflammatory therapy, mainly consisting of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), is the cornerstone of asthma management. Since Leukotrienes (LTs) are chemical mediators of airway inflammation in asthma, the leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are traditionally used as potent anti-inflammatory drugs in the long-term treatment of asthma in adults, adolescents, and school-age children. In particular, montelukast decreases airway inflammation, and has also a bronchoprotective effect. The main guidelines on asthma management have confirmed the clinical utility of LTRAs in children older than five years. In the present review we describe the most recent advances on the use of LTRAs in the treatment of preschool wheezing disorders. LTRAs are effective in young children with virus-induced wheeze and with multiple-trigger disease. Conflicting data do not allow to reach definitive conclusions on LTRAs efficacy in bronchiolitis or post-bronchiolitis wheeze, and in acute asthma. The excellent safety profile of montelukast and the possibility of oral administration, that entails better compliance from young children, represent the main strengths of its use in preschool children. Montelukast is a valid alternative to ICS especially in poorly compliant preschool children, or in subjects who show adverse effects related to long-term steroid therapy.

Empirical evaluation of age groups and age-subgroup analyses in pediatric randomized trials and pediatric meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

An important step toward improvement of the conduct of pediatric clinical research is the standardization of the ages of children to be included in pediatric trials and the optimal age-subgroups to be analyzed.

METHODS

We set out to evaluate empirically the age ranges of children, and age-subgroup analyses thereof, reported in recent pediatric randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses. First, we screened 24 RCTs published in Pediatrics during the first 6 months of 2011; second, we screened 188 pediatric RCTs published in 2007 in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; third, we screened 48 pediatric meta-analyses published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews in 2011. We extracted information on age ranges and age-subgroups considered and age-subgroup differences reported.

RESULTS

The age range of children in RCTs published in Pediatrics varied from 0.1 to 17.5 years (median age: 5; interquartile range: 1.8-10.2) and only 25% of those presented age-subgroup analyses. Large variability was also detected for age ranges in 188 RCTs from the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and only 28 of those analyzed age-subgroups. Moreover, only 11 of 48 meta-analyses had age-subgroup analyses, and in 6 of those, only different studies were included. Furthermore, most of these observed differences were not beyond chance.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed large variability in the age ranges and age-subgroups of children included in recent pediatric trials and meta-analyses. Despite the limited available data, some age-subgroup differences were noted. The rationale for the selection of particular age-subgroups deserves further study.

Anti-leukotriene agents compared to inhaled corticosteroids in the management of recurrent and/or chronic asthma in adults and children

BACKGROUND

Anti-leukotrienes (5-lipoxygenase inhibitors and leukotriene receptors antagonists) serve as alternative monotherapy to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in the management of recurrent and/or chronic asthma in adults and children.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the safety and efficacy of anti-leukotrienes compared to inhaled corticosteroids as monotherapy in adults and children with asthma and to provide better insight into the influence of patient and treatment characteristics on the magnitude of effects.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched MEDLINE (1966 to Dec 2010), EMBASE (1980 to Dec 2010), CINAHL (1982 to Dec 2010), the Cochrane Airways Group trials register, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Dec 2010), abstract books, and reference lists of review articles and trials. We contacted colleagues and the international headquarters of anti-leukotrienes producers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised trials that compared anti-leukotrienes with inhaled corticosteroids as monotherapy for a minimum period of four weeks in patients with asthma aged two years and older.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently assessed the methodological quality of trials and extracted data. The primary outcome was the number of patients with at least one exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroids. Secondary outcomes included patients with at least one exacerbation requiring hospital admission, lung function tests, indices of chronic asthma control, adverse effects, withdrawal rates and biological inflammatory markers.

MAIN RESULTS

Sixty-five trials met the inclusion criteria for this review. Fifty-six trials (19 paediatric trials) contributed data (representing total of 10,005 adults and 3,333 children); 21 trials were of high methodological quality; 44 were published in full-text. All trials pertained to patients with mild or moderate persistent asthma. Trial durations varied from four to 52 weeks. The median dose of inhaled corticosteroids was quite homogeneous at 200 µg/day of microfine hydrofluoroalkane-propelled beclomethasone or equivalent (HFA-BDP eq). Patients treated with anti-leukotrienes were more likely to suffer an exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroids (N = 6077 participants; risk ratio (RR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17, 1.96). For every 28 (95% CI 15 to 82) patients treated with anti-leukotrienes instead of inhaled corticosteroids, there was one additional patient with an exacerbation requiring rescue systemic corticosteroids. The magnitude of effect was significantly greater in patients with moderate compared with those with mild airway obstruction (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.41, 2.91 versus RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.97, 1.61), but was not significantly influenced by age group (children representing 23% of the weight versus adults), anti-leukotriene used, duration of intervention, methodological quality, and funding source. Significant group differences favouring inhaled corticosteroids were noted in most secondary outcomes including patients with at least one exacerbation requiring hospital admission (N = 2715 participants; RR 3.33; 95% CI 1.02 to 10.94), the change from baseline FEV(1) (N = 7128 participants; mean group difference (MD) 110 mL, 95% CI 140 to 80) as well as other lung function parameters, asthma symptoms, nocturnal awakenings, rescue medication use, symptom-free days, the quality of life, parents' and physicians' satisfaction. Anti-leukotriene therapy was associated with increased risk of withdrawals due to poor asthma control (N = 7669 participants; RR 2.56; 95% CI 2.01 to 3.27). For every thirty one (95% CI 22 to 47) patients treated with anti-leukotrienes instead of inhaled corticosteroids, there was one additional withdrawal due to poor control. Risk of side effects was not significantly different between both groups.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

As monotherapy, inhaled corticosteroids display superior efficacy to anti-leukotrienes in adults and children with persistent asthma; the superiority is particularly marked in patients with moderate airway obstruction. On the basis of efficacy, the results support the current guidelines' recommendation that inhaled corticosteroids remain the preferred monotherapy. 

The effect of beclomethasone dipropionate in ultrafine particles on bronchial hyper-reactivity in young children

AIM

Bronchial hyper-reactivity (BHR) provides a tool for asthma diagnosis, assessment of severity and response to treatment. The effect of beclomethasone dipropionate in ultrafine particles (BDP-HFA) on BHR as measured by the adenosine challenge test in young children has not yet been determined. Our aim was to determine the effect of BDP-HFA (100 μg twice daily) on BHR as evaluated by a reduction of 20% from baseline FEV1 (PC20-FEV1) values in young asthmatic children.

METHODS

Twenty-one young children (13 males), mean age 4.95 ± 1.05 years, with partially controlled or controlled asthma completed a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over study. Each child received 4 weeks of treatment with either 100 μg BDP-HFA twice daily or placebo, and after a 2-week washout period the other way around. Primary outcomes were PC20-FEV1 concentration, and the stage number at which FEV1 values dropped by 20%.

RESULTS

Following 4 weeks of treatment, median PC20-FEV1 was 81.28 mg/mL while on BDP-HFA, compared with 9.64 mg/mL on placebo (p < 0.001). The median increase in stages required to achieve PC20 on BDP-HFA compared with placebo was three (95% CI 2.28-4.86).

CONCLUSION

Four weeks of treatment with BDP-HFA resulted in significantly decreased BHR in young children.

Asthma outcomes: pulmonary physiology

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of pulmonary physiology have a central place in asthma clinical research.

OBJECTIVE

At the request of National Institutes of Health (NIH) institutes and other federal agencies, an expert group was convened to provide recommendations on the use of pulmonary function measures as asthma outcomes that should be assessed in a standardized fashion in future asthma clinical trials and studies to allow for cross-study comparisons.

METHODS

Our subcommittee conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed to identify studies that focused on the validation of various airway response tests used in asthma clinical research. The subcommittee classified the instruments as core (to be required in future studies), supplemental (to be used according to study aims and in a standardized fashion), or emerging (requiring validation and standardization). This work was discussed at an NIH-organized workshop in March 2010 and finalized in September 2011.

RESULTS

A list of pulmonary physiology outcomes that applies to both adults and children older than 6 years was created. These outcomes were then categorized into core, supplemental, and emerging. Spirometric outcomes (FEV(1), forced vital capacity, and FEV(1)/forced vital capacity ratio) are proposed as core outcomes for study population characterization, for observational studies, and for prospective clinical trials. Bronchodilator reversibility and prebronchodilator and postbronchodilator FEV(1) also are core outcomes for study population characterization and observational studies.

CONCLUSIONS

The subcommittee considers pulmonary physiology outcomes of central importance in asthma and proposes spirometric outcomes as core outcomes for all future NIH-initiated asthma clinical research.

Global strategy for the diagnosis and management of asthma in children 5 years and younger

Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood and the leading cause of childhood morbidity from chronic disease as measured by school absences, emergency department visits, and hospitalisation. During the past two decades, many scientific advances have improved our understanding of asthma and our ability to manage and control it effectively. However, in children 5 years and younger, the clinical symptoms of asthma are variable and non-specific. Furthermore, neither airflow limitation nor airway inflammation, the main pathologic hallmarks of the condition, can be assessed routinely in this age group. For this reason, to aid in the diagnosis of asthma in young children, a symptoms-only descriptive approach that includes the definition of various wheezing phenotypes has been recommended. In 1993, the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) was implemented to develop a network of individuals, organizations, and public health officials to disseminate information about the care of patients with asthma while at the same time assuring a mechanism to incorporate the results of scientific investigations into asthma care. Since then, GINA has developed and regularly revised a Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention. Publications based on the Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention have been translated into many different languages to promote international collaboration and dissemination of information. In this report, Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention in Children 5 Years and Younger, an effort has been made to present the special challenges that must be taken into account in managing asthma in children during the first 5 years of life, including difficulties with diagnosis, the efficacy and safety of drugs and drug delivery systems, and the lack of data on new therapies. Approaches to these issues will vary among populations in the world based on socioeconomic conditions, genetic diversity, cultural beliefs, and differences in healthcare access and delivery. Patients in this age group are often managed by pediatricians and general practitioners routinely faced with a wide variety of issues related to childhood diseases.

Montelukast in the treatment of asthma and beyond

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting over 300 million people worldwide. The common association with allergic rhinitis and the presence of proinflammatory cells and mediators in the circulation of patients qualify asthma as a systemic disease. This characteristic and the fact that the gold-standard therapy for persistent asthma, inhaled corticosteroids, cannot suppress all components of airway inflammation and fail to adequately penetrate into the small airways, warrant the quest for effective systemic anti-asthma therapies. This review describes the most important controlled studies of montelukast, a once-daily leukotriene receptor antagonist, in asthma and allergic rhinitis in both adults and children. Montelukast is a systemically active drug with a targeted, dual mechanism of action, acting both as a bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory. In patients of all ages, montelukast has shown a favorable safety profile and was well-tolerated. Both as monotherapy or in combination with inhaled corticosteroids, montelukast produced clinically relevant improvements in asthma-related parameters, including symptoms, lung function parameters, quality of life and the number of asthma exacerbations. Furthermore, bronchoprotective effects have been reported both against specific and nonspecific bronchoactive stimuli. Similarly, in patients with allergic rhinitis, montelukast produced substantial improvements in symptoms and quality of life. Long-term studies aimed to determine its effects on airway remodeling are still lacking.

Recurrent wheezing illness in preschool-aged children: assessment and management in primary care practice

Recurrent wheezing is common in preschool-aged children, with 1 in 3 children experiencing at least 1 acute wheezing illness before the age of 3 years. These children represent a diverse group, with some going on to present with asthma at school age and others experiencing complete resolution of symptoms. The primary care physician is faced with a dilemma of when to recommend daily therapy. He or she must also answer parents' concerns, often expressed as, "Does my child have asthma?" and "Will my child have to take medication the rest of his or her life?" This article presents recent studies and recommendations that can guide the physician in approaching the child and the parent with rational management. The emphasis is on viewing recurrent wheezing as a continuum requiring a plan of monitoring that starts with the very first episode. Using background information from the parents and a history of the child's allergic disposition, one can discuss with parents the risks of developing asthma and, together with planned monitoring, prescribe appropriate management. The primary care physician can plan management by using the Asthma Predictive Index and employing specific questions for features present during the intervals between acute episodes. Together with close monitoring, the physician will have a compass that effectively directs rational management.

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma

The Saudi Initiative for Asthma (SINA) provides up-to-date guidelines for healthcare workers managing patients with asthma. SINA was developed by a panel of Saudi experts with respectable academic backgrounds and long-standing experience in the field. SINA is founded on the latest available evidence, local literature, and knowledge of the current setting in Saudi Arabia. Emphasis is placed on understanding the epidemiology, pathophysiology, medications, and clinical presentation. SINA elaborates on the development of patient-doctor partnership, self-management, and control of precipitating factors. Approaches to asthma treatment in SINA are based on disease control by the utilization of Asthma Control Test for the initiation and adjustment of asthma treatment. This guideline is established for the treatment of asthma in both children and adults, with special attention to children 5 years and younger. It is expected that the implementation of these guidelines for treating asthma will lead to better asthma control and decrease patient utilization of the health care system.

[Recurrent wheezing in three year-olds: facts and opportunities]

The 3 year-old group of children has an increased incidence and prevalence of recurrent wheezing episodes. There are different subgroups, who give different inflammatory responses to different triggering agents, and subgroups that differ in aetiopathology and immunopathology. Current diagnostic methods (exhaled nitric oxide in multiple breaths, nitric oxide in exhaled air condensate, induced sputum, broncho-alveolar lavage and endo-bronchial biopsy), enable the inflammatory pattern to be identified and to give the most effective and safe treatment. The various therapeutic options for treatment are reviewed, such as inhaled glucocorticoids when the inflammatory phenotype is eosinophilic, and leukotriene receptor antagonists, when the inflammatory phenotype is predominantly neutrophilic. In accordance with the current recommendations, for the diagnosis as well as for the therapy initiated in children of this age, they must be regularly reviewed, so that if the benefit is not clear, the treatment must be stopped and an alternative diagnosis and treatment considered. The start of treatment should be determined depending on the intensity and frequency of the symptoms, with the aim of decreasing morbidity and increasing the quality of life of the patient.

Management of asthma in preschool children with inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this article is to review the recently published studies addressing various treatment approaches for asthma in preschool children.

RECENT FINDINGS

The heterogeneity of wheezing in the preschool years complicates the study of asthma in this age group. Once children at highest risk for persistence of wheezing are identified, various management strategies may be thoroughly studied. Several recent studies have confirmed the efficacy and safety of both inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists in the management of early childhood asthma. In addition to examining clinical efficacy, studies investigating the effects of these treatment modalities on the underlying airway inflammation have recently increased in number and quality and confirm the anti-inflammatory actions of these therapeutic strategies in the preschool child with asthma.

SUMMARY

Evidence for the preferred treatment strategies for persistent asthma in young children remains incomplete. Based on the current body of evidence, there is rationale for further investigation of these management strategies, including direct comparisons between inhaled corticosteroids and leukotriene receptor antagonists, as well as the role of long-acting beta-agonists, potentially targeting the subpopulations of early childhood with wheezing who are at highest risk for persistence of asthma symptoms.

Effects of exercise training and montelukast in children with mild asthma

PURPOSE

Data from the general population suggest that habitual exercise decreases bronchial responsiveness, but the possible role of exercise in asthmatics is undefined. The leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast decreases bronchial responsiveness and exercise-induced symptoms in asthmatic children. This randomized study in children with mild asthma evaluated the combined effects of aerobic training for 12 wk and montelukast or placebo on bronchial responsiveness (BHR) to methacholine, exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB), inflammatory markers in exhaled breath condensate (EBC), and asthma exacerbations.

METHODS

Fifty children (mean age +/- SD: 10.2 +/- 2.4 yr) with mild stable asthma were randomly assigned to placebo (N = 25) or montelukast (N = 25). Before and after training, we assessed BHR and EIB and markers of airway inflammation-that is, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO), pH, and cysteinyl-leukotriene concentration-in EBC.

RESULTS

Training increased maximal workload and peak minute ventilation. After training, the methacholine dose causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PD20) increased in both groups. A decreased slope of FEV1 decline at increasing methacholine dose was found only in montelukast-treated children. EIB prevalence halved after training in both groups (EIB + children, placebo group: 10 pretraining, 4 posttraining; EIB + children, montelukast group: 8 pretraining, 5 posttraining; P < 0.05 by chi on all children). Resting eNO was unaffected, whereas the pH of EBC decreased after training in both groups. Cysteinyl-leukotriene concentrations were low in most children at both times. During training, montelukast-treated children showed fewer asthma exacerbations compared with the same period of the previous year.

CONCLUSIONS

In children with mild stable asthma, exercise training decreased bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. Montelukast also decreased bronchial reactivity (FEV1 slope) and protected against exacerbations, suggesting a beneficial synergistic action of these two interventions in mild asthma.