Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist May Prevent the Progression of Preschool Children Asthma
Authors: M. Ebisawa, M. Ogata, T. Komata, T. Imai, M. Tomikawa, A. Shukuya, H. Tachimoto
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)

RATIONALE: Leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) for preschool children became available in 2000 in Japan. To evaluate the effectiveness of LTRA, we examined prescription of asthma controller against outpatients in 2001 and in 2005 and checked the frequency of exacerbations and the quality of life (QOL).METHODS: Same survey on each outpatient was performed by questionnaire against doctors and patients' parents from May to June in 2001 and in 2005. Questionnaire consisted of questions on the treatment toward doctors and those on the symptoms and QOL toward patients' parents. Total recovery in 2001 was 529 and that in 2005 688, respectively.RESULTS: When the subjects were divided into three age groups; 5y, the numbers of each group patients in 2001 were 18, 215, and 296, those in 2005 were 17, 255, and 416, respectively. The backgrounds of patients, such as onset of asthma, complication, and family history etc in two surveys were quite similar, however, the prescription patterns of asthma controller were different. LTRA was used 34% (80/233) of patients <6y in 2001, whereas 93% (254/272) in 2005. ICS was used only 2% (5/233) of patients <6y in 2001, and 9% (24/272) in 2005. The frequency of exacerbations and QOL of patients <6y was dramatically improved from 2001 to 2005.CONCLUSIONS: Increase of LTRA prescription seemed to contribute the decrease of exacerbations among preschool asthmatic patients, which resulted in the dramatic improvement of QOL. Further prospective studies are required to qualify the role of LTRA as an early intervention tool. RATIONALE: Leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) for preschool children became available in 2000 in Japan. To evaluate the effectiveness of LTRA, we examined prescription of asthma controller against outpatients in 2001 and in 2005 and checked the frequency of exacerbations and the quality of life (QOL). METHODS: Same survey on each outpatient was performed by questionnaire against doctors and patients' parents from May to June in 2001 and in 2005. Questionnaire consisted of questions on the treatment toward doctors and those on the symptoms and QOL toward patients' parents. Total recovery in 2001 was 529 and that in 2005 688, respectively. RESULTS: When the subjects were divided into three age groups; 5y, the numbers of each group patients in 2001 were 18, 215, and 296, those in 2005 were 17, 255, and 416, respectively. The backgrounds of patients, such as onset of asthma, complication, and family history etc in two surveys were quite similar, however, the prescription patterns of asthma controller were different. LTRA was used 34% (80/233) of patients <6y in 2001, whereas 93% (254/272) in 2005. ICS was used only 2% (5/233) of patients <6y in 2001, and 9% (24/272) in 2005. The frequency of exacerbations and QOL of patients <6y was dramatically improved from 2001 to 2005. CONCLUSIONS: Increase of LTRA prescription seemed to contribute the decrease of exacerbations among preschool asthmatic patients, which resulted in the dramatic improvement of QOL. Further prospective studies are required to qualify the role of LTRA as an early intervention tool.