Anti-leukotriene agents in modern therapy of bronchial asthma in children

Abstract

The article highlights the present-day knowledge on the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases of respiratory tract such as bronchial asthma in children. It presents the mechanisms of action that determine the points of application and recommended indications for use of Montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist. The clinical trials showed its efficacy and safety in children of 2 years and over. Montelukast is used to prevent daytime and night-time symptoms of bronchial asthma, bronchospasm caused by physical exertion and cold air, treat bronchial asthma in patients with hypersensitivity to acetylsalicylic acid, known as aspirin asthma, improve the daytime and night-time symptoms of seasonal and/or year-round allergic rhinitis in children. Montelukast is effective in bronchial asthma caused by viral, specifically rhinovirus, infections, and in bronchial asthma combined with allergic rhinitis. It can be successfully used as monotherapy in mild bronchial asthma. If situation requires to strengthen the baseline therapy in moderate and severe bronchial asthma, the alternative to increasing the dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids would be addition of Montelukast to the complex therapy. The drug is well tolerated, side effects are quite rare. It must be admitted that today anti-leukotriene agents have filled a specific market niche in the treatment of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in children, have showed their clinical efficacy, especially in certain phenotypes of the disease, which proves that they would become widely used in the near future.

Keywords

• children
• bronchial asthma
• allergic rhinitis
• anti-leukotriene drugs
• montelukast