Roles of LTRA in the long term management of bronchial asthma in children

Abstract

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (LTs) are one of the most important chemical mediators in acute and chronic phases of childhood asthma. LTRA is a useful long-term control medicine for intermittent to mild persistent asthma. It is effective as an add-on medicine to ICS in moderate to severe persistent asthma. LTRA may alleviate viral induced-wheezing (asthma) in young children. LTRA is effective for exercise-induced asthma (EIA).
According to accumulating evidences, LTRA is placed as one of the first line medications in intermittent to mild persistent asthma, and one of the preferable choices of add-on drugs in moderate to severe persistent asthma in Japanese Pediatric Guideline for asthma treatment and management (JPGL) 2012.