A Review of the Pathogenesis of Pediatric Asthma and the Effect of Leukotriene Modifiers in Pediatric Asthma Management

Al-Nemer, Ola Abdullah; Alshareef, Haneen Jameel; Aljehani, Afnan Abdullah; Gashgari, Abrar Mohammed  Noor; Alqarni, Bayan Ali; Bin Jariyd, Abdullah Abdulaziz; Alshammari, Fahad Obaid; Serri, Muayad Mahmood Anbar; Alsamadani, Raed Mohammad Noor; Sayyal, Rayan Ibrahim

doi:10.12816/0041680

A Review of the Pathogenesis of Pediatric Asthma and the Effect of Leukotriene Modifiers in Pediatric Asthma Management

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University

² Umm Al-Qura University

³ Batterjee Medical Collage

⁴ Ibn Sina National College

⁵ Al Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

⁶ Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University

⁷ King Abdulaziz University

10.12816/0041680

Abstract

Background: Asthma is the most common chronic illness that affects children. It is described by chronic airway inflammation, remodeling of the airway wall, and airway hyper-responsiveness to non-specific spasms in response to stimuli causing a reversible airflow obstruction. Leukotrienes are one of the primary chemical mediators of inflammation in asthmatic airway, therefore leukotriene modifiers are an important class of drug for treating asthma. Methodology: We conducted this review using a comprehensive search of MEDLINE, PubMed, and EMBASE, January 1981, through February 2017. The following search terms were used: asthma pathophysiology, chemokines, leukotriene, leukotriene modifiers, Montelukast in asthma management
Aim: our aim was to understand in depth the pathophysiology of pediatric asthma, and to study the effect of leukotriene modifiers in asthma management. Conclusion: For management of pediatric asthma, the leukotriene modifiers play a key role. New studies have shown that they could help in reducing dose and dependency on inhaled corticosteroid for maintenance, and decrease the need of systemic steroids in exacerbation. Leukotriene modifiers can have a positive impact on future asthma management and requires more studies to be done in this subject.

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