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Intermittent use of pranlukast in atopic children may not reduce future wheeze

The use of pranlukast on an intermittent basis in children aged younger than 2 years with a history of wheezing and atopic sensitization failed to decrease wheezing events later in life, according to study results.

“Intermittent and episode-driven use of pranlukast did not reduce the frequency of wheezing in atopic and wheezy children under 3 years of age, not only for 12 months but also for longer,” Motohiro Ebisawa, MD, PhD, of Sagamihara National Hospital in Japan, and colleagues wrote.

The researchers conducted a double blind, multicenter trial of episodic and intermittent use of pranlukast (n = 37) or placebo (n = 40) for 12 months on participants aged 1 to 2 years. Pranlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, works similarly to Singulair (montelukast, Merck).

Participants were included if they had experienced no more than two episodes of wheezing before study entry and had atopic sensitization to a minimum of one allergen-specific immunoglobulin E.

During the first year of the study, increased wheezing associated with asthma occurred in 28% of the participants receiving pranlukast vs. 36% of participants receiving placebo and was not significantly different (RR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.39-1.52).

The use of rescue medications including inhaled glucocorticosteroids also was similar in the pranlukast and placebo groups (RR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.07-16.7).

Along with pranlukast being administered only in intermittent and episode-driven events, the researchers said the number of participants limited the study.

“Different regimens, including daily use, higher doses, or longer durations may lead to different findings,” the researchers wrote. –by Ryan McDonald

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.