Therapeutic Effect of Montelukast, a Cysteinyl Leukotriene Receptor 1 Antagonist, on Japanese Patients with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

抄録

Background: Secretion of nasal discharge was enhanced and airway-resistance in the nasal cavity was augmented, resulting in nasal congestion, when leukotrienes were administered to the nasal mucosa. These results indicate that leukotrienes play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis.
Methods: A double-blind clinical study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of montelukast, a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 antagonist, 5mg, 10mg or placebo orally administered once daily at bedtime for 2 weeks, to Japanese patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. The composite nasal symptom scores (average over the 2-week treatment period) were compared among the montelukast 5mg and 10mg groups with the placebo group.
Results: The composite nasal symptom score significantly improved in the montelukast 5mg and 10mg groups compared with the placebo group. The administration of montelukast 5mg or 10mg once daily was well tolerated and the safety profiles were similar to those of the placebo. There were no significant differences in the incidences of adverse experience or drug-related adverse experience among the montelukast 5mg, 10mg groups and the placebo group.
Conclusions: Both montelukast 5mg and 10mg doses show clinically meaningful efficacy for the treatment of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and the safety profiles of those are comparable to that of the placebo.