Abstract
Background : Although the efficacy of leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA) for bronchial asthma has already been established, their effect on food allergy remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of LTRA in children with food allergy.
Methods : This retrospective review examines 65 children with food allergy aged between 3 and 36 months (mean : 14±9.6 months). Thirty-two children comprised a dietary control group that avoided any antigenic foods that had previously induced any adverse reaction. The remaining 33 children, designated the LTRA group, were treated with LTRA in addition to maintaining dietary control. Clinical symptoms and laboratory data before and one year after the trial were compared between the groups.
Results : Peripheral eosinophil count, serum IgE, interleukin (IL) -4, IL-5, IL-6, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels in children with food allergy were above standardized values in both groups. Although both dietary controlled and LTRA groups showed clinical improvement with decreased eosinophil count (p<0.05 and <0.001, respectively), only children treated with LTRA showed a significant decrease in serum IgE (p<0.01); controls conversely exhibited a significant increase in serum IgE (p<0.01). Furthermore, the LTRA group also showed a significant decrease in serum IL-4, IL-5, and ECP levels (p<0.05 for each).
Conclusion : Early intervention with LTRA in food allergy between 3 to 36 months of age may be effective in regulating eosinophil count and serum IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and ECP levels. These data support the potential effectiveness of early LTRA treatment to prevent the further development of food allergy in young children.
