PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - I.E. Zühlke
AU  - F. Kanniess
AU  - K. Richter
AU  - D. Nielsen-Gode
AU  - S. Böhme
AU  - R.A. Jörres
AU  - H. Magnussen
TI  - Montelukast attenuates the airway response to hypertonic saline in moderate-to-severe COPD
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.03.00046203
DP  - 2003 Dec 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 926--930
VI  - 22
IP  - 6
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/6/926.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/6/926.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2003 Dec 01; 22
AB  - This study assessed the effect of the leukotriene receptor antagonist montelukast on hypertonic saline-induced airway obstruction. A total of 29 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 42±4% predicted) received either 10 mg montelukast and 3 h later placebo via metered-dose inhaler (MDI) (M), or placebo and 3h later 200 µg salbutamol (S), or two doses of placebo (P), in a randomised order. Patients inhaled salbutamol 1 h after MDI and the challenge was performed 15 min later (3% saline, 5 min). Data are given as per cent changes versus baseline. Compared to P, S caused significant bronchodilation in FEV1 (7.3%) and forced inspiratory volume in one second (FIV1) (4.5%), and M in FIV1 (1.5%). The saline-induced fall in FEV1 was lower after M (−5.8%), compared with S (−10.3%) and P (−13.1%). FEV1 (11.3%) and FIV1 (7.6%) was improved over baseline after recovery by M but not P and S. Recovery times regarding FEV1 (8.5 min) and FIV1 (15.2 min) were shortest after M, respective values for S being 16.8 and 20.4 min, and for P 15.9 and 21.2 min. Effects were strongest in patients with low baseline FEV1 and/or inhaled corticosteroids. Data from this study indicate beneficial effects of montelukast on hypertonic saline-induced airway responses in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, particularly those with severe disease. The major effect was an accelerated recovery leading to values above baseline. This study was supported by an educational grant from Merck Sharpe Dohme GmbH, Haar, Munich.