Inhaled corticosteroids vs. leukotriene-receptor antagonists and asthma exacerbations in children

Smoking affects response to inhaled corticosteroids or leukotriene receptor antagonists in asthma.

RATIONALE One-quarter to one-third of individuals with asthma smoke, which may affect response to therapy and contribute to poor asthma control. OBJECTIVES To determine if the response to an inhaled corticosteroid or a leukotriene receptor antagonist is attenuated in individuals with asthma who smoke. METHODS In a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover trial,...

Inhaled corticosteroids as rescue medication in asthma exacerbations in children.

The role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) as rescue medication for asthma exacerbations in children is controversial. ICS have the important potential advantage of direct delivery to the airways, which substantially reduces the risk of the adverse systemic effects that may be associated with oral corticosteroids. Oral corticosteroids are still preferred for severe attacks. Five randomized, cont...

Role of leukotriene receptor antagonists in asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects >300 million people worldwide. However, inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), the gold standard therapy for persistent asthma, cannot suppress every component of airway inflammation and often fail to adequately penetrate the small airways in order completely suppress eosinophilia. Cysteinyl leukotrienes are important inflammatory factors that are i...

Leukotriene receptor antagonists: useful in acute asthma?

Non-adherence to inhaled corticosteroids and the risk of asthma exacerbations in children

BACKGROUND Non-adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) is a major risk factor for poor asthma control in children. However, little is known about the effect of adherence to ICS on the incidence of asthma exacerbations. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of poor adherence to ICS on the risk of exacerbations in children with asthma. METHODS In this nested case-control stu...