ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Minerva Pneumologica 2004 March;43(1):41-50

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Oral montelukast compared with inhaled salbutamol to prevent exercise-induced asthma in children

Macucci F., Guerrini L., Strambi M.

Aim. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the efficacy of montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in preventing exercise-induced asthma (EIA), compared with salbutamol, currently considered as the first choice drug in this clinical condition.
Methods. Nine children (9-14 years-old) with mild-moderate asthma and a medical history of EIA and a fall in FEV1 >10% after exercise performed at a screening test. The exercise test, performed at the 1st consultation, was repeated in all subjects, preceded by the administration of inhaled salbutamol 15 min before the exercise test and after 4 weeks of treatment with montelukast administered in a single oral evening dose. The primary end point was the maximum percent fall in FEV1 (delta FEV1) from pre-exercise baseline value.
Results. The maximum percent fall in FEV1 from pre-exercise baseline found at the 1st consultation was significantly higher to that measured both after the administration of salbutamol (p<0.05) and after the treatment with montelukast (p<0.01). Both salbutamol and montelukast demonstrated to be able to prevent EIA (p=0.05 salbutamol vs base value, p=0.007 montelukast vs base value) without statistically significant differences (p=0.57).
Conclusion. Both of the drugs demonstrated to be effective in the prevention of EIA. The ease of consumption (orally) and the once daily dose of montelukast favoured therapeutic compliance.