Long-Acting Beta Agonists: Salmeterol and Formeterol

Salmeterol and Formeterol
Two long-acting ß 2 -adrenergic agonists (LABAs), salmeterol and formoterol, have been demonstrated to be safe and effective agents in children, both in terms of bronchodilation and prevention of exercise-induced bronchospasm. Their onsets of action differ, with formoterol having an onset similar to albuterol (3 minutes), while salmeterol has a slower onset of action (10–20 minutes). Following a single-dose administration, both agents demonstrate durations of action up to 12 hours. Following regular twice-daily administration, bronchodilation remains effective; however, a level of tolerance (or tachyphylaxis) (more…)

Antileukotrienes in Acute Asthma: Zafirlukast, Montelukast, Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists

Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
Leukotrienes can be found in the airway and urine following both spontaneous exacerbations of asthma and acute exposure to bronchoconstrictor stimuli in the laboratory. This in turn indicates that they may have a role in the pathogenesis of acute episodes of bronchoconstriction. Although antileukotrienes are not currently advocated in the management of acute asthma, there are data to suggest that they might be of some potential benefit. Prior treatment with montelukast asthma has been shown in several studies to significantly shorten the time taken to recover (in terms of FEV 1 ) following exposure to a bronchoconstrictor stimulus. (more…)

Montelukast Side Effects as Antileukotrienes Therapy to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma

antileukotrienes therapy
Despite optimum drug delivery and good compliance with inhaled corticosteroids, many patients experience symptoms and exacerbations. Dose–response studies using inhaled corticosteroids have generally been unable to demonstrate any significant difference between individual doses of inhaled corticosteroids. For example, a metaanalysis evaluated eight studies (2324 asthmatics) where the effects of at least two doses of inhaled fluticasone were measured. (more…)

Histamine Type-2 Receptor as Major Player in Peripheral Tolerance

histamine receptor
Histamine is a low-molecular-weight monoamine that binds to four different G-protein-coupled receptors, and has recently been demonstrated to regulate several essential events in the immune response. The histamine receptor type 2 (HR2) is coupled to adenylate cyclase and studies in different species and several human cells have demonstrated that inhibition of characteristic features of the cells by primarily cAMP formation dominates in HR2-dependent effects of histamine. (more…)

Budesonide Inhalation Dose versus Maintenance Treatment in Asthma Exacerbations

budesonide inhalation
This study was similar to the study of Harrison and colleagues, which looked at doubling the dose of inhaled corticosteroid during an asthma exacerbation. This study investigated whether doubling the dose of budesonide inhalation in patients on regular inhaled budesonide would be beneficial during an asthma exacerbation. (more…)

Repeated Dosing Effects Of Mediator Antagonists in Inhaled Corticosteroid-Treated Atopic Asthmatic Patients

Treating allergic rhinitis may have a downstream effect on concomitant asthma and this may be due to attenuation of the underlying inflammatory process.

Fexofenadine and montelukast exhibited additive effects to moderately high doses of inhaled corticosteroids when used as add-on therapy in the treatment of patients with persistent atopic asthma. (more…)

Omalizumab Benefits for Severe Persistent Asthma Therapy

Patients with severe persistent asthma who are inadequately controlled despite Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2002 step 4 therapy are a challenging population with a significant unmet medical need. In patients with inadequately controlled severe persistent asthma despite high-dose inhaled corticosteroid and LABA therapy, and often additional therapy, omalizumab significantly reduced the rate of clinically significant asthma exacerbations, severe exacerbations and emergency visits. (more…)

Allergy Immunotherapy with Depigmented Glutaraldehyde-Polymerized Extracts

Allergy Immunotherapy
Allergic rhinitis is a very common problem associated with poor quality of life, reductions in social and work activities and poor interpersonal relationships. The main goal of the management of allergic rhinitis is to improve the quality of life. Immunotherapy is a specific therapy for allergic rhinitis and several reports have documented the safety and efficacy of this treatment . Safety has been a key issue in immunotherapy and various modalities are being investigated to make allergy immunotherapy more tolerable and safe to administer. (more…)

Effect Of Pet Removal On Pet Allergic Asthma

Allergen avoidance has been recommended in the management of allergic asthma children. Very few studies have assessed the effect of pet removal on pet allergic asthma. The authors examined the effect of pet removal from homes on pulmonary function testing, bronchial
hyper-responsiveness and medication use. This was a prospective, controlled but non-randomized and open study. Subjects included 20 symptomatic patients with newly diagnosed pet allergic asthma who were keeping domestic animals, including hamsters, cats, dogs and ferrets, and were sensitized to these animals. (more…)

A Chimeric Human–Cat Fusion Protein Blocks Cat-Induced Allergy

The specific treatment of allergy has previously relied upon allergen avoidance and sublingual immunotherapy. These approaches have been used predominantly in hymenoptera venom and aero-allergen-driven disease when previous food allergy immunotherapy has been unsuccessful. (more…)

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