Hauser T et al. – Use of Montelukast (leukotriene-receptor antagonist) was associated with a 4.5-fold higher risk of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) onset within 3 months, possibly due to a general escalation of asthma therapy before CSS onset. The montelukast-CSS association could also be explained by the increasing use of this medication over time. Methods
Study to investigate the relationship between the leukotriene-receptor antagonist montelukast and CSS onset
Medication histories of 78 CSS pts from France and Germany were retraced
Achieved by questioning the pts, treating physicians and dispensing pharmacists, and from medical records
Exposures to montelukast and other asthma medications during the 3-month 'index' period immediately preceding CSS onset with those of 4 previous 3-month 'control' periods were compared
Results
OR for CSS onset were 4.5 for montelukast, 3.0 for inhaled long-acting β2-agonists, 1.7 for inhaled corticosteroids and 4.0 for oral corticosteroids
Montelukast exposure during control periods increased temporally over 3 consecutive calendar periods of CSS onset from 1999-2003
See all
