Figures
- Fig. 1.—
Individual changes over montelukast versus fluticasone treatment. Effects on a) lung function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), L), b) airway responsiveness to methacholine (provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20), in terms of the shift in doubling doses), c) sputum eosinophils (as per cent of nonsquamous cells) and d) the level of exhaled nitric oxide (parts per billion, at a flow rate of 50 mL·s−1) are shown.
- Fig. 2.—
Individual changes in peak expiratory flow (PEF) over the treatment periods. Values were computed as mean values of 7-day periods before and at the end of treatment periods. The bars indicate the group mean values. Using a pairwise comparison, values were significantly higher (p<0.05) after fluticasone treatment than after montelukast for each morning and evening PEF.
Tables
- Table 1—
Patient characteristics
M:F 24:16 Age (range) yrs 37 (18–60) Total serum IgE IU·mL−1 706±196 FEV1 L 2.79±0.56 FEV1 % pred 74.2±10.6 FVC % pred 93.1±10.2 PC20 Mch mg·mL−1 0.180÷1.17 Sputum eosinophils % 4.28÷1.29 Tryptase in sputum pg·mL−1 8.9÷1.4 Exhaled NO at 50 mL·s−1 ppb 51.1÷1.14 -
Data are presented as arithmetic mean±sem
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Geometric mean±sem is given for immunoglobulin (Ig)E. For provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (PC20), eosinophils, tryptase and exhaled nitric oxide (NO), geometric mean±sem (to be understood as a variability factor, indicated by ÷) are supplied
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FVC: forced vital capacity
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% pred: % predicted
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Mch: Methacholine
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ppb: parts per billion
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Concentration of exhaled NO at a flow rate of 50 mL·s−1 as interpolated from values obtained at four different flow rates
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- Table 2—
Results before and after the two 4-week treatment periods
Fluticasone Montelukast Pre Post p-value Pre Post p-value FEV1 L 2.68±0.09 3.18±0.10 <0.001 2.75±0.09 3.12±0.12 <0.001 PC20 mg·mL−1 0.178÷1.17 0.449÷1.17 <0.001 0.196÷1.18 0.217÷1.17 0.39 Sputum eosinophils % 4.9÷1.3 1.8÷1.3 <0.001 3.2÷1.3 2.3÷1.4 0.16 Exhaled NO ppb 54.8÷1.1 26.7÷1.1 <0.001 52.0÷1.1 48.7÷1.1 0.36 Tryptase pg·mL−1 8.8÷1.4 4.0÷1.4 0.005 4.8÷1.4 6.5÷1.4 0.28 -
Mean values and arithmetic (±) or geometric (÷) sem are given
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FEV1: forced expiratory volume in one second
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PC20: provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1
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NO: nitric oxide
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- Table 3—
Symptom scores over treatment periods
Screening period Fluticasone p-value Montelukast p-value Daytime symptoms 0.7±0.8 0.4±0.7 0.05 0.44±0.8 0.08 Night-time symptoms 0.35±0.5 0.19±0.5 0.17 0.27±0.5 0.49 Salbutamol puff·day−1 1.5±1.8 0.8±1.7 <0.001 1.0±1.8 0.02 -
Data are presented as mean±sd of changes over fluticasone and montelukast treatment periods and as absolute values during the screening period. A score of 0 denotes no symptoms; a score of 4 denotes maximal symptoms, severe impairment of daytime activities, and no sleep during night-time. n=38
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