Asthma characteristics predict response to treatment
Researchers have identified characteristics in children with asthma that could help predict the type of treatment they will respond to.
The researchers treated 126 children with mild to moderate asthma with
fluticasone and montelukast sequentially for eight weeks each. At the
end of the 16-week trial, 17 per cent of the children had responded (lung
function improved by 7.5 per cent or more) to both therapies, 23 per
cent responded only when using the inhaled corticosteroid, 5 per cent
responded only when using montelukast and 55 per cent did not respond
to either therapy.
Certain asthma characteristics were associated with the pattern of response
to treatment. Children whose asthma improved with inhaled corticosteroids
had poor lung function and elevated markers of allergic inflammation
at the start of the study. Children who responded only to montelukast,
a leukotriene receptor antagonist, were younger and had suffered from
asthma for less time.
The researchers conclude: “Children who have reduced pulmonary
function or high levels of markers indicating allergic inflammation should
receive inhaled corticosteroids, whereas those without these features
could receive a therapeutic trial of either an inhaled corticosteroid
or leukotriene receptor antagonist.” (Journal
of Allergy & Clinical
Immunology 2005;115:233.) |
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