Open AccessEfficacy of Leukotriene Modifiers for the Treatment of Persistent Asthma in Children
Author(s) -
Duarte Machado
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
mcgill journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1715-8125
pISSN - 1201-026X
DOI - 10.26443/mjm.v7i1.532
Subject(s) - medicine , zafirlukast , montelukast , asthma , spirometry , leukotriene , zileuton , pediatrics , emergency department , arachidonate 5 lipoxygenase , biochemistry , chemistry , psychiatry , arachidonic acid , enzyme
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of the leukotriene modifiers (LTMs), zafirlukast and montelukast, in children with asthma managed by an inner city pediatric pulmonary practice. A retrospective chart review was done of children 6 years of age with persistent asthma seen at Connecticut Children's Medical Center and prescribed LTM drugs. Eighty-three children whose asthma control was adequately assessed both before and after addition of a LTM to his/her treatment regimen was included in the study. There were statistically significant improvements in several parameters of asthma control following initiation of LTM use, including provider assessment score (p = 0.0005), number of hospitalizations and unscheduled visits (clinic or emergency department; p < 0.0001), use of oral corticosteroids (p = 0.0015), spirometry severity score (p = 0.0015), and spirometry test results (FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF, FEF25-75%; p < 0.005 for all). These results suggest that montelukast and zafirlukast help to improve asthma control in young patients with persistent asthma.