In sensitive asthmatic children, the exposure to relevant allergens causes a
deterioration of lung function and symptoms associated with an increase of
inflammatory indices. The aim of this single-blind randomized add-on study was to
compare the effects of montelukast or formoterol added to low-dose budesonide in
asthmatic allergic children exposed to relevant allergens. Twenty children (5
female subjects and 15 male subjects, aged 6-12 years) were enrolled. Lung
function and airway inflammatory indices (exhaled nitric oxide [eNO] and sputum
eosinophils) were evaluated at T0 when children were not exposed to relevant
allergens and at T1 after 15 days of natural effective allergen exposure. At T1,
pulmonary function tests and sputum eosinophils remained stable in both of the
groups, without significant differences in comparison with T0 at baseline.
Furthermore, formoterol plus budesonide was effective in preventing the expected
increase in eNO from 26.46 +/- 2.62 ppb at T0 to 29.33 +/- 9.28 ppb at T1 (not
significant). However, in the group receiving montelukast plus budesonide, there
was a significant decrease of eNO from baseline (30.78 +/- 6.87 ppb) to T1 (18.17
+/- 6.60 ppb) (p < .05). In allergic asthmatic children, the use of montelukast
or formoterol combined with budesonide could offer a durable protective effect on
symptoms, lung function, and inflammatory indices