OBJECTIVE To review basic concepts, inhalation therapy, classification of asthma and peculiarities of asthma in developing countries. SOURCES Direct search in the Medline, HighWire and MD Consult databases. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS Inhaled corticosteroids are the drugs of choice for the treatment of asthma. Alternatively, other drugs, such as long-acting beta-agonists and antileukotrienes co...

BACKGROUND Platelet activating factor and tachykinins (substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B) are important mediators contributing to increased airway secretion in the context of different types of respiratory diseases including acute and chronic asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonists are recommended as add-on therapy for this disease. The cys-leukotriene-1 receptor antagonist montelukast h...

Several cases of eosinophilic conditions including Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) have recently been reported in asthmatic patients being treated with antileukotriene receptor antagonists. One patient with CSS who experienced a clinical relapse after treatment with montelukast and two asthmatic patients who developed CSS while receiving montelukast treatment are described. In one case reduction i...