ANTILEUKOTRIENES

Key words: Leukotrienes, Chronic asthma, Leukotriene receptor antagonists, Leukotriene synthesis inhibitors

Leukotrienes play an important role in the etiopathogenesis of asthma. Leukotriene synthesis inhibitors and leukotriene receptor antagonists have been synthetised. Among these Zileuton, Zafirlukast, Pranlukast and Montelukast were shown to be effective in the treatment of chronic asthma, although only Montelukast has been approved for paediatric age. This molecule is effective in reducing exercise-induced bronchospasm, but studies were made only in patients with mild asthma and in the majority of patients the effect was partial. Specific indications for antileukotrienes may be patients with analgesic-induced asthma and patients with side effects due to inhaled steroids. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the indications and safety of these molecules in the paediatric age.