Management of asthma with zafirlukast. Clinical experience and tolerability profile

Drugs
S L Spector

Abstract

This article reviews the literature on the use of zafirlukast in the treatment of asthma, with particular focus on its ability to attenuate the asthma-causing effects of leukotrienes. Leukotrienes produced by the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme pathway have various biological activities. These include the specific inflammatory effects associated with asthma, such as increased vascular permeability, enhanced mucus production and decreased mucociliary transport. Leukotriene receptors in the airways also mediate a potent bronchoconstriction and this is particularly important in asthma. Zafirlukast was developed with the goal of attenuating the inflammatory effects of leukotrienes in asthma. Zafirlukast attenuates the responses to inhaled leukotrienes and allergen challenges, and produces beneficial effects in cold air- and exercise-induced asthma. Zafirlukast has been compared with placebo and sodium cromoglycate in clinical trials involving asthma patients. Zafirlukast brings about a significant bronchodilation within 1 hour of administration that is additive to the effects of beta 2 agonists. These studies showed that zafirlukast improves pulmonary function and reduces the symptoms of asthma. Zafirlukast is well tolerated with an incidenc...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 12, 2002·European Journal of Pharmacology·Timothy J Martin, Kenneth J Broadley
Jun 28, 2001·Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·P E Korenblat, UNKNOWN Antileukotriene Working Group
Dec 3, 1999·Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology : Official Publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology·S L Spector
Jun 8, 2000·Allergy·N MygindH Bisgaard
Feb 11, 2003·International Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology·G. RiccioniR. Della Vecchia
May 18, 2012·The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews·Bhupendrasinh F Chauhan, Francine M Ducharme
Dec 16, 1998·Respiratory Medicine·S J Lane
May 15, 1998·Clinics in Sports Medicine·B W Smith, M LaBotz

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