Effects of montelukast-desloratadine combination on early and late asthma responses

Abstract

Background: In asthma, montelukast is given on regular basis to reduce eosinophilic airway inflammation. Addition of the antihistaminic desloratadine can amplify the early and late anti-inflammatory activities of montelukast in patients with asthma. Objective: To assess the efficacy data of preventive single-dose desloratadine, montelukast and combination therapy in asthma subjects challenged with inhaled allergens. Methods/results: Analysis of data from a placebo-controlled, cross-over study in which combination preventive therapy was demonstrated to be superior in reducing both early and late allergen-induced inflammatory response when compared with placebo and each component. Conclusion: Although such combination therapy might be effective in preventing the inflammatory flare following the transient allergen exposure, further studies are needed to better define such therapy in terms of duration, doses and therapeutic indications.

Keywords::

• asthma
• desloratadine
• late inflammatory response
• montelukast