EFFECTS OF MONTELUKAST (MK-0476), A POTENT CYSTEINYL LEUKOTRIENE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST, ON BRONCHODILATION IN ASTHMATIC SUBJECTS TREATED WITHAND WITHOUT INHALED CORTICOSTEROIDS

Background - Cysteinyl leukotriene release in association with airway inflammation is a feature of clinical asthma. The acute effects of mon telukast (MK-0476), a potent, orally administered, specific cysteinyl leukotriene receptor antagonist, on airways obstruction was assessed i n patients with mild to moderately severe asthma. Methods - Twenty two asthmatic subjects were randomised to receive montelukast, 100 mg or 250 mg, or placebo in a double blind, three period, crossover trial. T en of the patients were using concomitant inhaled corticosteroids. Res ults - Montelukast increased the forced expiratory volume in one secon d (FEV(1)) from predose baseline values compared with placebo, the per centage point differences between montelukast and placebo being 8.6% ( 95% CI 3.6 to 13.6) and 8.5% (95% CI 3.5 to 13.5) for the 100 mg and 2 50 mg doses, respectively. Conclusion - Single oral doses of monteluka st 100 mg and 250 mg produced significant increases in FEV(1) irrespec tive of the concurrent use of inhaled corticosteroids in asthmatic sub jects with airflow limitation.