Lack of tolerance to the protective effect of montelukast in exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in children

¹ Dept of paediatrics, University of Perugia, Italy
² Dept of paediatrics, University of Naples, Italy

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: debenedictis{at}ao-salesi.marche.it.

	Abstract

The over time effect of regular treatment with montelukast (MNT) in inhibiting exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) has never been evaluated in children. The aim of the present study was to examine the preventive effect of MNT against EIB at different time points over a 4-week treatment period in children.

Thirty two asthmatic children (age 6 to 12 years) were enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, parallel group design to receive a 4-week treatment with MNT (5 mg chewable tablets administered once daily in the evening) or placebo. Exercise challenge was performed at baseline and after 3, 7, 28 days of treatment, from 20 to 24 hours after dosing.

MNT was significantly more protective than placebo against EIB at each time. The mean percentage drop of forced expiratory volume in 1 sec. (FEV₁) was 24.6, 13.6, 12.0, 11.6 for MNT, and 24.4, 22.4, 21.8, 21.0 for placebo, at baseline and after 3 (p<0.05), 7 (p<0.01) and 28 days (p<0.05), respectively. For each drug, no significant difference in the percentage drop of FEV₁ was found between different days.

Regular treatment with MNT provided significant protection against EIB in asthmatic children over a 4-week period with no tolerance to the bronchoprotective effect.

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