Publication:

Effect of montelukast as monotherapy in mild persistent asthma

Background Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists (LTRAs) have a role in moderate and severe persistent asthma as a steroid sparing agent.  The role of these agents as monotherapy in mild persistent asthma still needs to be determined. Montelukast is FDA approved for use in children >1 year of age. This study was done to assess the effect of montelukast as monotherapy in children with mild persistent asthma.

Methods A prospective interventional study was conducted in Department of Pediatrics in Chennai Medical College Hospital and Research centre, Trichy, India from June 2014 to August 2015. A 12 week interventional trial to compare the effect of montelukast with placebo in children with mild persistent asthma and 6 months follow up of cases and controls. The assessment was done by clinical scoring and peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR).

Results At the end of 12 weeks therapy and at 3 months follow up symptom control was significant in the montelukast group. The difference in clinical assessment scoring and PEFR between the montelukast group and placebo group was statistically significant (p 0.05).

Conclusions Montelukast provides significant symptom control and improvement in PEFR in mild persistent asthma compared to placebo. It is effective as monotherapy in mild persistent asthma in children aged 2-12 years. Symptom control is good during therapy and until three months after discontinuation of drug.