Review: antileukotriene agents at licensed doses plus inhaled corticosteroids do not reduce asthma exacerbations more than inhaled corticosteroids alone.

M e t h o d s Data sources: Cochrane Airways Group Asthma trials register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, references of relevant articles, pharmaceutical companies manufacturing ALs and ICSs, and abstracts of the American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society Meetings (1998 to 2003). Study selection and assessment: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ALs plus ICSs with the same dose of ICSs, double the dose of ICSs, or a tapered dose of ICSs in patients with recurrent or chronic asthma who were ≥ 2 years of age. Study quality was assessed using the Jadad 5-point scale. Outcomes: Exacerbations and change from baseline dose of ICSs required to maintain control, and change from baseline in asthma control measures. Trials were grouped for licensed dose and higher-than-licensed dose of ALs.