Copyright #ERS Journals Ltd 2002 Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 853–858 European Respiratory Journal DOI: 10.1183/09031936.02.00244602 ISSN 0903-1936 Printed in UK – all rights reserved Montelukast versus fluticasone: effects on lung function, airway responsiveness and inflammation in moderate asthma F. Kanniess, K. Richter, S. Bo¨hme, R.A. Jo¨rres, H. Magnussen Montelukast versus fluticasone: effects on lung function, airway responsiveness and Pulmonary Research Institute, Hospi- inflammation in moderate asthma. F. Kanniess, K. Richter, S. Bo¨hme, R.A. Jo¨rres, tal Grosshansdorf, Center for Pneu- H. Magnussen. #ERS Journals Ltd 2002. mology and Thoracic Surgery, D-22927 ABSTRACT: Whether leukotriene receptor antagonists exhibit adequate anti- Grosshansdorf, Germany. inflammatory effects in the treatment of asthma is still a controversial issue. The aim Correspondence: H. Magnussen, Pul- of the present study was to perform a direct comparison of the effects of a 4-week monary Research Institute, Hospital treatment with either montelukast (10 mg, once a day) or low-dose inhaled fluticasone Grosshansdorf, Center for Pneumology (100 mg b.i.d.) on functional and inflammatory parameters in steroid-naı¨ve patients with and Thoracic Surgery, Wo¨hrendamm moderate asthma. 80, D-22927 Grosshansdorf, Germany. Forty patients (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), 60–80% predicted) Fax: 49 4102601379 were studied in a double-blind, randomised, crossover design. Treatment periods were E-mail:
[email protected] separated by 3–8 weeks of washout. At the beginning and end of each period, FEV1, Keywords: Bronchial hyperresponsive- airway responsiveness to inhaled methacholine (provocative concentration causing a ness 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20)), the level of exhaled nitric oxide (NO) and sputum exhaled nitric oxide differential cell counts were determined.