HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Permissions Request Permissions Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zühlke, I.E. Articles by Magnussen, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Zühlke, I.E. Articles by Magnussen, H.

Montelukast attenuates the airway response to hypertonic saline in moderate-to-severe COPD

Pulmonary Research Institute, Hospital Großhansdorf, Center for Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, Großhansdorf, Germany.

CORRESPONDENCE: I. Zühlke, Pulmonary Research Institute, Hospital Großhansdorf, Center for Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery, Wöhrendamm 80, D-22927, Großhansdorf, Germany. Fax: 49 4102692295. E-mail: i.zuehlke@pulmoresearch.de

Keywords: airway obstruction, airway protection, antileukotrienes, corticosteroids, recovery time, salbutamol

Received: April 25, 2003
Accepted July 9, 2003

This study was supported by an educational grant from Merck Sharpe Dohme GmbH, Haar, Munich.

This study assessed the effect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on hypertonic saline-induced airway obstruction.

A total of 29 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), 42±4% predicted) received either 10 mg montelukast and 3 h later placebo via metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (M), or placebo and 3h later 200 µg salbutamol (S), or two doses of placebo (P), in a randomised order. Patients inhaled salbutamol 1 h after MDI and the challenge was performed 15 min later (3% saline, 5 min). Data are given as per cent changes versus baseline.

Compared to P, S caused significant bronchodilation in FEV₁ (7.3%) and forced inspiratory volume in one second (FIV₁) (4.5%), and M in FIV₁ (1.5%). The saline-induced fall in FEV₁ was lower after M (–5.8%), compared with S (–10.3%) and P (–13.1%). FEV₁ (11.3%) and FIV₁ (7.6%) was improved over baseline after recovery by M but not P and S. Recovery times regarding FEV₁ (8.5 min) and FIV₁ (15.2 min) were shortest after M, respective values for S being 16.8 and 20.4 min, and for P 15.9 and 21.2 min. Effects were strongest in patients with low baseline FEV₁ and/or inhaled corticosteroids.

Data from this study indicate beneficial effects of montelukast on hypertonic saline-induced airway responses in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly those with severe disease. The major effect was an accelerated recovery leading to values above baseline.