195 The Impact of Administration of Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists, Pranlukast-EK to Infants with Bronchial Asthma

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma develops by the age of 3 years frequently in childhood in industrialized countries. Pranlukast hydrate, leukotriene receptor antagonists, has been shown to be clinically effective for the treatment of hypersensitivity and childhood asthma. The generic drugs for PLK were universally used in the market, and the effect of the drug also restrain the bronchial asthma onset of infants having an established allergic factor clinically, which necessitates the analysis of the mechanisms of allergic diseases and development of the effective treatment. Therefore we examined influence of administration of Pranlukast-EK (PLK-EK) on the symptom onset of a mild and moderate type of bronchial asthma. METHODS: The 116 patients, who accepted at least 2 to 3 times wheeze after birth, were enrolled ranging from 6 months to 6 years in age. They were treated with Pranlukast-EK (7-10 mg/kg) daily (71 cases, group A) or with suplatast tosilate as a reference (45 cases, group B). The severe and moderate type of patients, who were continuously treated with corticosteroids were excluded. The clinical evaluation was concerning frequency of coughing and wheeze, and that of the β2-receptor agonist inhalation consumption in every 4 months with an asthma diary. In addition, allergic tests; eosinophile count and IgE value were determined in every 4 months. RESULTS: The frequency of the coughing decreased significantly 12 months later (the last 4 months) as compared to the first 4 months in both groups. Concerning the wheeze, the significant change was also examined in both groups. As for the frequency of the β2-receptor agonist inhalation consumption, the significant decrease was observed in group A and B. The meaningful change of the peripheral blood eosinophile count was not watched in group A and B. The serum IgE value decreased 12 months later in the subgroup of group A, who showed the decreased frequency of symptoms, whereas such a meaningful decrease was never recognized in group B. PLK-EK likely restrains an increase of serum IgE value. CONCLUSIONS: Pranlukast-EK modulates IgE production and eosinophile count in patients with the mild and moderate type of bronchial asthma, and has action to improve wheeze expression clinically.