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S Yonekura,1 Y Okamoto,1
K Okubo,2 T Okawa,1 M Gotoh,3
H Suzuki,4 T Kakuma,5 S Horiguchi,1
T Hanazawa,1 A Konno,6 M Okuda2,7 |
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1Department of Otolaryngology, Head
and Neck Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba
University, Chiba, Japan
2Department of Otolaryngology, Nippon Medical School,
Tokyo, Japan
3Department of Otolaryngology, Nippon Medical School,
Chiba Hokusoh Hospital, Chiba, Japan
4Department of Pharmacology, Nippon Medical School,
Tokyo, Japan
5Biostatistics Center, Medical School, Kurume
University, Fukuoka, Japan
6Otolaryngology Unit, South Tohoku General Hospital,
Fukushima, Japan
7Japan Allergy Asthma Clinic, Tokyo, Japan |
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Abstract |
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Background:
In recent years,
many countries have
experienced an
increase in the
prevalence of
allergic rhinitis.
No effective
approach is
currently available
to prevent the onset
of symptoms in
allergic
individuals.
Pranlukast, a
leukotriene receptor
antagonist with a
good safety and
efficacy record for
the management of
allergic
inflammation, may be
appropriate for
early intervention
in the management of
pollinosis.
Objective: To
investigate the
efficacy of
pranlukast as an
early intervention
in the control of
cedar pollinosis.
Methods: In a
double-blind
comparative study,
pranlukast (n=102)
or placebo (n=91)
was administered to
cedar pollinosis
patients immediately
before the start of
the dispersion
season and continued
for 4 weeks.
Subsequently,
pranlukast was
administered to all
patients for 2 weeks
until the end of the
cedar pollen
dispersion season
(mid-March). All
patients were
carefully monitored
for severity of
nasal symptoms,
symptom scores,
medication scores,
symptom-medication
scores, and quality
of life (QOL).
Results:
Compared with
placebo, therapy
with pranlukast
before and during
the dispersion of
cedar pollen in
these patients
significantly
improved nasal
symptoms (paroxysmal
sneezing, rhinorrhea,
and nasal
congestion), symptom
scores, and
symptom-medication
scores. The drug
also significantly
reduced
deterioration of QOL,
and improved nasal
symptoms and QOL
throughout the
dispersion period.
Conclusion:
Administering
pranlukast
immediately before
the beginning of
cedar pollen
dispersion is
effective in
reducing symptoms of
allergic rhinitis
throughout the
dispersion period.
Key words:
Allergic rhinitis.
Cedar pollinosis.
Early intervention.
Leukotriene receptor
antagonist.
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