Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) are novel medications that provide symptom control in patients with persistent asthma. Current guidelines recommend the use of LTRAs as a treatment option for patients with mild-persistent asthma of at least 12 years of age. As illustrated by the results of controlled, multicenter clinical trials with zafirlukast and montelukast, as well as studies with ...

T here are two " Sounding Board " articles published in the September 3, 1998, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine that at first glance, do not seem to have much relationship to one another. 1,2 The first article describes ethical guidelines for practicing physicians to prevent financial considerations from interfering with decisions about medical care. The second article reviews the p...

Introduction The prevalence of bronchial asthma, which is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway, is increasing worldwide. Although inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) play a central role in the treatment of asthma, they cannot achieve good control for all asthmatics and medications such as leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) with bronchodilatory and anti-inflammatory effects often serve ...

Although asthma is one of the most common chronic respiratory conditions, it often remains unrecognized and undertreated, while patients are often reluctant to comply with regular inhaled anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator therapy. Allergic rhinitis co-exists with asthma in as many as 40% of patients, and can be regarded as a continuum of the same inflammatory disease process. Corticosteroids...

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in young children. About 40% of all preschool children regularly wheeze during common cold infections. The heterogeneity of wheezing phenotypes early in life and various anatomical and emotional factors unique to young children present significant challenges in the clinical management of this problem. Anti-inflammatory therapy, mainly consisting of inha...

BACKGROUND Leukotriene receptor antagonists significantly blunt allergen-induced bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects. Inhibitors of leukotriene synthesis should theoretically provide similar protection, but conflicting results have been obtained when synthesis inhibitors have been tested in allergen challenge. BAYx 1005, a new inhibitor of leukotriene synthesis, was therefore evaluated in...