Treatment with 400 microg of inhaled budesonide vs 200 microg of inhaled budesonide and oral montelukast in children with moderate persistent asthma: randomized controlled trial.

Author(s): Jat GC, Mathew JL, Singh M

Affiliation(s): Department of Pediatrics, Advanced Pediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

Publication date & source: 2006-09, Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol., 97(3):397-401.

Publication type:

BACKGROUND: Montelukast is reported to be beneficial in asthma as add-on therapy to inhaled corticosteroids and may reduce the need for the latter. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a combination of oral montelukast and 200 microg of inhaled budesonide has comparable efficacy to 400 microg of inhaled budesonide alone in children with moderate persistent asthma. METHODS: In this prospective, blinded, hospital-based randomized controlled trial, 71 children with moderate persistent asthma were randomized to receive either montelukast, 5-mg chewable tablet, with 200 microg of inhaled budesonide or only 400 microg of inhaled budesonide daily for 12 weeks. Baseline and serial measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, and Asthma Symptom Score were performed; the frequency and severity of exacerbations were also recorded. RESULTS: Measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second, peak expiratory flow rate, and Asthma Symptom Score showed no significant differences between the 2 groups at baseline, during the serial follow-up visits, and at the end of the study. However, children who received montelukast had a greater frequency of exacerbations vs those who did not (33.3% vs 9.1%; P < .01). CONCLUSION: The overall control of asthma with 5 mg of oral montelukast and 200 microg of inhaled budesonide is inferior to that with 400 microg of inhaled budesonide in children with moderate persistent asthma.