Newer Asthma Therapies
Authors: Lewis J. Smith
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1999)

Editorials16 March 1999Newer Asthma TherapiesLewis J. Smith, MDLewis J. Smith, MDNorthwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL 60611 (Smith)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-130-6-199903160-00018 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail For more than 30 years, the medications available for treating asthma have included β-agonists (such as albuterol), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (such as theophylline), corticosteroids (such as prednisone and beclomethasone), and the so-called antiallergic compounds (such as cromolyn). In the past decade, newer drugs of the same type but with improved characteristics, such as greater specificity and longer duration of action (β2-agonists) and reduced systemic bioavailability (inhaled corticosteroids) have become available and are widely used. Rigorous clinical trials of these newer preparations have resulted in a better appreciation of their efficacy, potential toxicity, and appropriate use. At the same time, morbidity and ...References1. McFadden ER, Gilbert IA. Asthma. N Engl J Med. 1992;327:1928-37. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Lang DM, Polansky M. Patterns of asthma mortality in Philadelphia from 1969 to 1991. N Engl J Med. 1994;331:1542-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Murphy RC, Hammarstrom S, Samuelsson B. Leukotriene C: a slow-reacting substance from murine mastocytoma cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1979;76:4275-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. Lewis RA, Austen KF, Drazen JM, Clark DA, Marfat A, Corey EJ. Slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis: identification of leukotriene C-1 and D from human and rat sources. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1980;77:3710-4. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Smith LJ. A risk–benefit assessment of antileukotrienes in asthma. Drug Saf. 1998;19:205-18. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Dahlen B, Nizankowska E, Szczeklik A, Zetterstrom O, Bochenek G, Kumlin M, et al. Benefits from adding the 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor zileuton to conventional therapy in aspirin-intolerant asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998; 157(4 Pt 1):1187-94. Google Scholar7. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma: Expert Panel Report 2. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; 1997. NIH publication no. 97-4051. Google Scholar8. Laitinen LA, Nay IP, Binks S, Harris A. Comparative efficacy of zafirlukast and low dose steroids in asthmatics on prn beta2-agonists [Abstract]. Eur Respir J. 1997;10:419S. Google Scholar9. Malmstrom K, Rodriguez-Gomez G, Guerra J, Villaran C, Piñeiro A, Wei LX, et al . Oral montelukast, inhaled beclomethasone, and placebo for chronic asthma. A randomized, controlled trial. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:487-95. LinkGoogle Scholar10. Riddick CA, Ring WL, Baker JR, Hodulik CR, Bigby TD. Dexamethasone increases expression of 5-lipoxygenase and its activating protein in human monocytes and THP-1 cells. Eur J Biochem. 1997;246:112-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Northwestern University Medical School; Chicago, IL 60611 (Smith)Corresponding Author: Lewis J. Smith, MD, Office of Clinical Research and Training, Northwestern University Medical School, 710 North Lake Shore Drive, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoOral Montelukast, Inhaled Beclomethasone, and Placebo for Chronic Asthma Kerstin Malmstrom , Guillermo Rodriguez-Gomez , Jeremias Guerra , Cesar Villaran , Andres Piñeiro , Lynn X. Wei , Beth C. Seidenberg , Theodore F. Reiss , and Inhaled Corticosteroids or Antileukotrienes for Asthma? Neil B. Hampson Inhaled Corticosteroids or Antileukotrienes for Asthma? Theodore F. Reiss Metrics Cited ByAntagonists of leukotriene receptors in treatment of patients with bronchial asthmaCysteinyl Leukotriene Levels in Esophageal Mucosal Biopsies of Children with Eosinophilic Inflammation: Are They All the Same?Leukotriene antagonistsTreatment of Asthma in AdultsComparative Efficacy of Inhaled Corticosteroids and Antileukotriene Drugs in Asthmamontelukast, astmaMontelukast bij astma, montelukast astma, beclometasonastma?Inhaled Corticosteroids or Antileukotrienes for Asthma?Neil B. Hampson, MD 16 March 1999Volume 130, Issue 6Page: 531-532KeywordsAsthmaClinical trialsCorticosteroid therapyDrugsForced expiratory volume in the first second of expirationLeukotrieneLungsReceptor antagonist therapySafetySafety studies Issue Published: 16 March 1999 CopyrightCopyright © 1999 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...