Background: Upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) represent the most frequent cause of acute asthma exacerbation. Systemic corticosteroid (CS) is presently recommended for URI-induced asthma exacerbation, although it might inhibit cellular immunity against respiratory virus infection.
Objectives: To determine the effects of adding a short course (2 weeks) of a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) to systemic CS on URI-induced acute asthma exacerbation.
Methods: Twenty-three adult asthmatics (mean age, 42.8 ± 9.8 y; Male:Female, 10:13) with URI-induced acute asthma exacerbation confirmed by a questionnaire and physical findings were randomly assigned to receive either oral prednisolone (PSL) alone or oral PSL plus the LTRA pranlukast (PRL) for 2 weeks (PSL + PRL). The cumulative doses of PSL and the amount of time required to clear asthma-related symptoms were determined. Levels of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) RNA and influenza viral (IV) antigen in nasopharyngeal swabs were also determined.
Results: Adding PRL significantly reduced the cumulative dose of PSL and tended to reduce the time required to clear asthma-related symptoms. Either RSV or IV was detected in about one-third of the patients.
Conclusion: The combination of an LTRA and CS might be more useful than CS alone for treating URI-induced acute exacerbation of asthma and reducing the cumulative CS dose.