Natural Anti-inflammatory and Anti-allergy Agents: Herbs and Botanical Ingredients.

Allergies have been known to be an abnormally vigorous immune response in which the immune system fights off an allergen or antigen, initiating mast cells to release histamine into the blood. Substances that prevent mast cells from releasing histamine are considered antiallergic agents. The drugs utilized to treat allergy are mast cell stabilizers, steroids, anti-histamine, leukotriene receptor antagonists, and decongestants. Anti-histamine drugs have side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, constipation, difficulty urinating, blurred vision, etc. The use of medicinal plants for the effective and safe management of diseases has recently received much attention. Various herbs are utilized for their antiallergic and anti-histaminic properties. Some of the herbs useful in the management of allergic diseases of the respiratory tract, like Piper longum, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Solanum xanthocarpum have been discussed. Ample scientific evidence is available for the anti-histaminic and antiallergic activity of Azadirachta indica, Aloe vera, Tinospora cordifolia, and many other such herbs are safer to use as antiallergic agents have been reported. The review summarizes a wide variety of herbs and botanical ingredients with their common scientific names and distribution for easy identification and usage as safe antiallergic agents and discusses their molecular mechanisms involved in combating allergic reactions.

LTA4H rs2660845 association with montelukast response in early and late-onset asthma.

Leukotrienes play a central pathophysiological role in both paediatric and adult asthma. However, 35% to 78% of asthmatics do not respond to leukotriene inhibitors. In this study we tested the role of the LTA4H regulatory variant rs2660845 and age of asthma onset in response to montelukast in ethnically diverse populations. We identified and genotyped 3,594 asthma patients treated with montelukast (2,514 late-onset and 1,080 early-onset) from seven cohorts (UKBiobank, GoSHARE, BREATHE, Tayside RCT, PAGES, GALA II and SAGE). Individuals under montelukast treatment experiencing at least one exacerbation in a 12-month period were compared against individuals with no exacerbation, using logistic regression for each cohort and meta-analysis. While no significant association was found with European late-onset subjects, a meta-analysis of 523 early-onset individuals from European ancestry demonstrated the odds of experiencing asthma exacerbations by carriers of at least one G allele, despite montelukast treatment, were increased (odds-ratio = 2.92, 95%confidence interval (CI): 1.04-8.18, I2 = 62%, p = 0.0412) compared to those in the AA group. When meta-analysing with other ethnic groups, no significant increased risk of asthma exacerbations was found (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 0.61-4.19, I2 = 85%, p = 0.342). Our study demonstrates that genetic variation in LTA4H, together with timing of asthma onset, may contribute to variability in montelukast response. European individuals with early-onset (≤18y) carrying at least one copy of rs2660845 have increased odd of exacerbation under montelukast treatment, presumably due to the up-regulation of LTA4H activity. These findings support a precision medicine approach for the treatment of asthma with montelukast.

Comparing LAMA with LABA and LTRA as add-on therapies in primary care asthma management.

The Global Initiative for Asthma recommends a stepwise approach to adjust asthma treatment to the needs of individual patients; inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) remain the core pharmacological treatment. However, many patients remain poorly controlled, and evidence-based algorithms to decide on the best order and rationale for add-on therapies are lacking. We explore the challenges of asthma management in primary care and review outcomes from randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses comparing the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) tiotropium with long-acting ß2-agonists (LABAs) or leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) as add-on to ICS in patients with asthma. In adults, LAMAs and LABAs provide a greater improvement in lung function than LTRAs as add-on to ICS. In children, results were positive and comparable between therapies, but data are scarce. This information could aid decision-making in primary care, supporting the use of add-on therapy to ICS to help improve lung function, control asthma symptoms and prevent exacerbations.

Efficacy of Montelukast in Allergic Rhinitis Treatment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In treating allergic rhinitis, montelukast has the potential to be used as an alternative or addition to an oral antihistamine or intranasal corticosteroid. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of montelukast in treating allergic rhinitis. METHODS: An electronic literature search was performed using the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, and MEDLINE from 1966 to 21 January 2019. The eligibility criteria were randomized controlled trials comparing montelukast with placebo or other standard treatments. The primary outcomes assessed were daytime nasal symptom score (DNS) and night-time nasal symptom score (NNS). The secondary outcomes assessed were composite nasal symptom score (CSS), daytime eyes symptom score (DES), and rhinoconjunctivitis quality-of-life questionnaires (RQLQ). The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 software based on the random-effects model. RESULTS: Fifteen studies of 10387 participants met the inclusion criteria. Montelukast was more effective than placebo in improving DNS (mean difference [MD] - 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.15 to - 0.08; p < 0.001), NNS (MD - 0.09, 95% CI - 0.13 to - 0.05; p < 0.001), CSS (MD - 0.08, 95% CI - 0.11 to - 0.06; p < 0.001), DES (MD - 0.17, 95% CI - 0.33 to - 0.02; p < 0.030), and RQLQ (MD - 0.34, 95% CI - 0.49 to - 0.20; p < 0.001). Oral antihistamine was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.08, 95% CI 0.03-0.13; p = 0.002), CSS (MD 0.03, 95% CI - 0.02 to 0.07; p = 0.27), DES (MD 0.06, 95% CI 0-0.12; p = 0.040), and RQLQ (MD 0.03, 95% CI - 0.05 to 0.12; p = 0.430). Montelukast was superior to oral antihistamine in improving NNS (MD -0.03, 95% CI - 0.08 to 0.03; p = 0.330). Intranasal fluticasone spray was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.71, 95% CI 0.44-0.99; p < 0.001) and NNS (MD 0.63, 95% CI 0.29-0.97; p < 0.001). Combined montelukast and oral antihistamine was superior to oral antihistamine in improving DNS (MD - 0.15, 95% CI - 0.27 to - 0.03; p = 0.010), NNS (MD - 0.16, 95% CI - 0.28 to - 0.05; p = 0.006), CSS (MD - 0.12, 95% CI - 0.25 to - 0.01; p = 0.070), DES (MD - 0.12, 95% CI - 0.30 to 0.06; p = 0.180), and RQLQ (MD - 0.10, 95% CI - 0.28 to 0.08; p = 0.290). Combined montelukast and OAH was superior to montelukast in improving DNS (MD 0.15, 95% CI 0.08-0.21; p < 0.001), NNS (MD 0.05, 95% CI - 0.09 to 0.19; p = 0.510), CSS (MD 0.1, 95% CI 0.03-0.17; p = 0.007), DES (MD 0.18, 95% CI 0-0.36; p = 0.050), and RQLQ (MD 0.07 95% CI - 0.15 to 0.29; p = 0.530). CONCLUSIONS: Montelukast is more effective than placebo in treating the overall symptoms of allergic rhinitis while the combined therapy of montelukast and an oral antihistamine is superior to either montelukast or an oral antihistamine alone.

Pharmacotherapeutic management of asthma in the elderly patient.

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a heterogeneous syndrome with variable phenotypes. Reversible airway obstruction and airway hyper-responsiveness often with an atopic or eosinophilic component is common in the elderly asthmatic. Asthma chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS), a combination of atopy-mediated airway hyper-responsiveness and a history of smoking or other environmental noxious exposures, can lead to some fixed airway obstruction and is also common in elderly patients. Little specific data exist for the treating the elderly asthmatic, thus requiring the clinician to extrapolate from general adult data and asthma treatment guidelines. AREAS COVERED: A stepwise approach to pharmacotherapy of the elderly patient with asthma and ACOS is offered and the literature supporting the use of each class of drugs reviewed. EXPERT OPINION: Inhaled, long-acting bronchodilators in combination with inhaled corticosteroids represent the backbone of treatment for the elderly patient with asthma or ACOS . Beyond these medications used as direct bronchodilators and topical anti-inflammatory agents, a stepwise approach to escalation of therapy includes multiple options such as oral leukotriene receptor antagonist or 5-lipoxygense inhibitor therapy, oral phosphodiesterase inhibitors, systemic corticosteroids, oral macrolide antibiotics and if evidence of eosinophilic/atopic component disease exists then modifying monoclonal antibody therapies.

Treatment strategies for the yellow zone.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate relevant studies and documents that address treatment strategies for acute loss of asthma control (yellow zone). DATA SOURCES: Publications available on various treatment strategies for the yellow zone, Global Initiative for Asthma, and FDA Drug Safety Communication. STUDY SELECTIONS: Studies that assessed the effectiveness of specific therapies as yellow zone strategies were included in this review. RESULTS: Multiple yellow zone strategies exist, but only a few have been shown consistently effective. No specific evidence suggests that scheduled SABA can prevent exacerbation. Results for intermittent leukotriene receptor antagonist use have been mixed. Strong evidence supports intermittent inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosing for preschool-aged children with intermittent viral-induced wheeze, but data regarding this strategy for older children and adults are limited. As for short-term increase in scheduled ICS controller, doubling the dose seems to be ineffective, whereas results for a more substantial increase in ICS dose (quadrupling and quintupling) have been mixed. Dynamic dosing appears most promising, because symptom-driven ICS in tandem with rescue beta agonist use (whether short- or long-acting) is the strategy with the most robust data demonstrating reduction in exacerbations while minimizing ICS exposure. CONCLUSION: Varying study designs and the heterogeneity of asthma itself likely account for the difference in outcomes seen with the various yellow zone intervention strategies studied. More studies are needed to determine the right yellow zone therapies for the right patients, but this is likely to be most effective through a personalized approach.

Healthcare utilization in infants and toddlers with asthma-like symptoms.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent asthma-like symptoms are common in infants, but few population studies describe diagnostic and treatment practice. METHODS: Using the electronic data repository of Clalit Health Services, the largest integrated health care provider in Israel, we evaluated children born 2005-2012, who before 3 years of age had >3 episodes of asthma-like symptoms and/or >2 bronchodilator purchases within a year. We described health care utilization and the odds ratio for subsequent utilization after 3 and 12 months' controller therapy. The primary outcome measure was respiratory-related doctor visits. Linear and categorical regression analysis measured overall effectiveness of therapy. RESULTS: Among 689 171 infants, 262 900 (38.1%) had > 3 asthma-like episodes/year during at least 1 year. Of those, 26 108 (10%) purchased controller therapy: 20 316 (77.8%) inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) with or without leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), and 5792 (22.2%) LTRA alone. For these 26 108 over 3 months there were 93 845 respiratory-related doctor visits, 3110 hospital admissions, 5568 diagnoses of pneumonia, 9960 chest X-rays, 37 127 purchases for oral steroids, and 45 142 for antibiotics courses. Healthcare utilization decreased following ICS ± LTRA and LTRA alone, respectively, as follows: doctor visits 7% and 3%, chest X-rays 16% and 17%, bronchodilators 20% and 11%, systemic steroids 17% and 12%, and antibiotics by 35% and 22%, (P < .001 for all). Twelve months' therapy remained effective. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma-like symptoms are common in infants. Health care utilization is very high and physician practices should be reassessed. Following controller therapy, health care utilization decreased. Yet controllers were prescribed in only a minority of eligible children.

Systematic reviews of pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatments for patients with chronic urticaria: An umbrella systematic review.

A wide range of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for chronic urticaria (CU) have been evaluated in systematic reviews (SRs). We conducted an umbrella review of SRs of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for CU, which allow the findings of separate reviews to be compared and contrasted and thereby provide decision makers in healthcare with the evidence they need.We included SRs evaluating pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for CU. Comprehensive searches were conducted in 7 bibliographic databases, relevant journals up to July 2018. Two reviewers independently assessed the studies' relevance and quality. The assessment of multiple systematic reviews tool and grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation method was used to assess the methodological quality of the SRs and classify the quality of the outcomes.In total, 41 SRs were included. Thirty-seven reviews performed quantitative research syntheses, and 4 reviews performed qualitative research syntheses. The majority of SRs evaluated interventions based on combination therapies, antihistamines, traditional Chinese medicines, autohemotherapy, omalizumab, acupuncture, cyclosporine, and leukotriene receptor antagonist. Positive intervention outcomes were reported in the majority (75.32%) of the reviews. However, the methodological quality and evidence quality of the reviews were generally poor.There is some evidence to support a variety of interventions for CU. However, there was much heterogeneity in evidence quality among SRs. Many of the SRs had methodological weaknesses that make them vulnerable to bias. Moreover, there remained little information on the relative effectiveness of one intervention compared with another. Therefore, further SRs that adherence to strict scientific methods are necessary, and primary studies make comparisons between the different treatment options directly.

Real-life experience in the treatment of solar urticaria: retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Solar urticaria (SU) is a rare photodermatosis causing a significant impact on patients' quality of life (QoL), and treatment is often challenging. AIM: To analyse clinical experience with a tailored stepwise therapeutic approach. METHODS: A retrospective cohort design was used. Patients with suspected SU underwent laboratory investigations and photoprovocation. Those with a high minimal urticaria dose (MUD) were treated with a single antihistamine (protocol 1), and those with a lower MUD received three types of antihistamines (protocol 2); both protocols included a leucotriene receptor antagonist (LRA). In cases of failure, treatment was switched to omalizumab at doses of < 300 mg/month with incremental dosage increases as necessary (monthly dose range, 150-600 mg/month). Symptom relief and photoprovocation under treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 30 patients (10 men, 20 women) were enrolled. Most (87%) were sensitive to visible light (1-70 J/cm2 ) with or without extension to ultraviolet A. Of the 30 patients, 23 opted for our stepwise approach: 22 achieved complete remission on protocols 1 or 2 (n = 17) or after switching to omalizumab (n = 5), and another patient achieved partial remission under omalizumab. There were no treatment-related severe adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Symptoms of SU can be well controlled by treatment with antihistamines and an LRA tailored to the degree of photosensitivity, followed by omalizumab in refractory cases. This has important implications for patient QoL.

Protective effect of melatonin versus montelukast in cisplatin-induced seminiferous tubule damage in rats.

We compared the protective effects of melatonin and montelukast against cisplatin-induced testicular damage. Adult male rats were assigned to one of four groups: a control group, a cisplatin (Cis) group treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of 7 mg/kg cisplatin, a cisplatin + melatonin group (Cis-Mel) and a cisplatin + montelukast group (Cis-Mon) each treated with the same dose of cisplatin together with either oral melatonin (20 mg/kg) or oral montelukast (10 mg/kg) in 2 ml water from day 1 to day 10 starting on the day of the cisplatin injection. Cisplatin-induced oxidative stress, with a significant increase in testicular malonedialdehyde (MDA), decreased testicular glutathione (GSH), histological testicular damage and body weight loss. Additionally, increased abnormal sperm forms and decreased count and motility were noted. Melatonin and montelukast both rescued GSH concentrations, increased sperm count and motility and decreased abnormal forms. Montelukast resulted in better rescue of weight loss, while greater improvement in sperm count and testicular pathology, and a trend for decreased MDA were noted with melatonin. These findings suggest that melatonin and montelukast protect against different aspects of cisplatin-induced toxicity. Future studies should assess whether both drugs may have additive benefit when used in combination.

Leukotriene receptors as potential therapeutic targets.

Leukotrienes, a class of arachidonic acid-derived bioactive molecules, are known as mediators of allergic and inflammatory reactions and considered to be important drug targets. Although an inhibitor of leukotriene biosynthesis and antagonists of the cysteinyl leukotriene receptor are clinically used for bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis, these medications were developed before the molecular identification of leukotriene receptors. Numerous studies using cloned leukotriene receptors and genetically engineered mice have unveiled new pathophysiological roles for leukotrienes. This Review covers the recent findings on leukotriene receptors to revisit them as new drug targets.

Renoprotective effects of montelukast in an experimental model of cisplatin nephrotoxicity in rats.

Renal toxicity is one of the most severe complications that can occur with cisplatin (CIS) administration in cancer patients. Montelukast (ML) renoprotective outcome contrary to CIS-drawn nephrotoxicity remains obscure. Therefore, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally given ML (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) 5 days before and after single CIS (5 mg/kg; i.p.) treatment. ML returned blood urea nitrogen, as well as serum creatinine and gamma glutamyl transferase that were elevated by CIS to normal level. The improved kidney function tests corroborated the attenuation of CIS renal injury at the microscopical level. It also reduced serum/renal nitric oxide and renal hemeoxygenase-1. Meanwhile, ML hindered the raised levels of serum endothelin-1, serum and renal tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. These effects were associated by deceased caspase-3 expression in kidney after ML treatment. In conclusion, ML guards against CIS-induced nephrotoxicity via anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties.

In vivo modulation of LPS induced leukotrienes generation and oxidative stress by sesame lignans.

The role of inflammation and oxidative stress is critical during onset of metabolic disorders and this has been sufficiently established in literature. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of sesamol and sesamin, two important bioactive molecules present in sesame oil, on the generation of inflammatory and oxidative stress factors in LPS injected rats. Sesamol and sesamin lowered LPS induced expression of cPLA2 (61 and 56%), 5-LOX (44 and 51%), BLT-1(32 and 35%) and LTC4 synthase (49 and 50%), respectively, in liver homogenate. The diminished serum LTB4 (53 and 64%) and LTC4 (67 and 44%) levels in sesamol and sesamin administered groups, respectively, were found to be concurrent with the observed decrease in the expression of cPLA2 and 5-LOX. The serum levels of TNF-α (29 and 19%), MCP-1 (44 and 57%) and IL-1ß (43 and 42%) were found to be reduced in sesamol and sesamin group, respectively, as given in parentheses, compared to LPS group. Sesamol and sesamin offered protection against LPS induced lipid peroxidation in both serum and liver. Sesamol, but not sesamin, significantly restored the loss of catalase and glutathione reductase activity due to LPS (P<.05). However, both sesamol and sesamin reverted SOD activities by 92 and 98%, respectively. Thus, oral supplementation of sesamol and sesamin beneficially modulated the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, as observed in the present study, in LPS injected rats. Our report further advocates the potential use of sesamol and sesamin as an adjunct therapy wherein, inflammatory and oxidative stress is of major concern.

Current and future therapies for the treatment of histamine-induced angioedema.

INTRODUCTION: Angioedema, a sudden, self-limited swelling of localized areas of any part of the body that may or may not be associated with urticaria, is thought to be the result of a mast-cell mediated process versus a bradykinin etiology. Understanding the mechanism is key in determining the proper treatment. Areas Covered: Clinical presentation of varying angioedema types may be similar; however, the appropriate treatment algorithm is dependent upon clinicians' knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology and classification of angioedema. Literature review of recent guidelines, available medications, and alternative therapies was completed to provide an overview of options. CONCLUSION: There are no formal guidelines for treatment of acute or chronic histamine-mediated angioedema, and therefore, algorithms for the treatment of acute and chronic urticaria should be followed until such information becomes available. Differentiating histamine-mediated versus bradykinin mediated angioedema is essential, as treatments and treatment responses are quite different. Further research is needed to better understand idiopathic angioedema that is unresponsive to H1/H2 antagonists, LTMAs, or medications designed to treat bradykinin-mediated angioedema.

New and developing non-adrenoreceptor small molecule drugs for the treatment of asthma.

INTRODUCTION: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone or in combination with an inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA) are the preferred long-term treatment for adults and adolescents with symptomatic asthma. Additional drugs include leukotriene-receptor antagonists, slow-release theophylline and the long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) tiotropium (approved in 2015). There is a need for more effective therapies, as many patients continue to have poorly controlled asthma. Areas covered: New and developing long-acting non-adrenoreceptor synthetic drugs for the treatment of symptomatic chronic asthma despite treatment with an ICS alone or combined with a LABA. Data was reviewed from studies published up until November 2016. Expert opinion: Tiotropium improves lung function and has a modest effect in reducing exacerbations when added to ICS alone or ICS and LABA. The LAMAs umeclidinium and glycopyrronium are under development in fixed dose combination with ICS and LABA. Novel small molecule drugs, such as CRTH2 receptor antagonists, PDE4 inhibitors, protein kinase inhibitors and nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor agonists and 'off-label' use of licensed drugs, such as macrolides and statins are under investigation for asthma, although their effectiveness in clinical practice is not established. To better achieve the goal of developing effective novel small molecule drugs for asthma will require greater understanding of mechanisms of disease and the different phenotypes and endotypes of asthma.

Eficacia y seguridad del uso de bromuro de tiotropio en el tratamiento de pacientes con asma severa no controlada con ics/laba y ltra, y no tributarios a teofilina / Efficacy and safety of the use of tiotropium bromide in the treatment of patients with severe asthma not controlled with ics / laba and ltra, and not tributaries to theophylline

INTRODUCCIÓN: El presente dictamen presenta la evaluación de tecnología de la eficacia y seguridad de bromuro de tiotropio en el tratamiento de dolor neuropático. El asma es una enfermedad respiratoria crónica que se manifiesta de manera heterogénea entre los que la padecen, usualmente caracterizada por inflamación crónica de las vías aéreas. El asma puede ser clasificado como leve, moderada o severa. La severidad del asma se evalúa de manera retrospectiva y está en función del tratamiento requerido para controlar los síntomas y exacerbaciones. La prevalencia global de asma se ha estimado entre 1% y 16% en la población entre 13 y 14 años de edad, aunque varían entre países por la ausencia de una definición de asma universal. En cuanto a la población adulta general, en Estados Unidos, la prevalencia de asma se estima cerca al 8%, mientras que la prevalencia de asma en adultos mayores de 65 años se encuentra entre 4% y 8%. El asma severa se da en 5-10% del total de casos de asma. TECNOLOGIA SANITARIA DE INTERÉS: El bromuro de tiotropio, también llamado únicamente tiotropio, es un agente anticolinérgico de acción prolongada que presenta afinidad especifica por los receptores muscarínicos (M 1 a M 5 ), particularmente por los subtipos M 1 y M 3 . La acción del bromuro de tiotropio se da a nivel de vías áreas, donde inhibe los receptores muscarínicos de músculo liso, lo cual tiene como resultado la broncodilatación. A los medicamentos de su clase se les conoce como antagonistas muscarínicos de acción prolongada (LAMA, por sus siglas en inglés). METODOLOGIA: Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda de la literatura con respecto a la eficacia y seguridad de de bromuro de tiotropio en el tratamiento de asma severa en las bases de datos de PubMed, TRIPDATABASE, The Cohrane Library y www.clinicaltrials.gov. Adicionalmente, se realizó una búsqueda de evaluaciones de tecnologías y guías de práctica clínica en las páginas web de grupos dedicados a la investigación y educación en salud en general como Organización mundial de la Salud (OMS), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC), Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH), Instituto de efectividad clínica y sanitaria (IECS), Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnología en Salud (IETS); y especializados en neumología como American Thoracic Society (ATS), European Respiratory Society (ERS), Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS), Asociación Latinoamericana de Tórax (ALAT), National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), British Thoracic Society (BTS). RESULTADOS: En la actualidad el Petitorio Farmacológico de EsSalud cuenta con ICS, LABA, LTRA y teofilina para el tratamiento de pacientes con asma severa. Sin embargo, existe un grupo de pacientes en quienes el tratamiento con dosis máximas de ICS más LABA y terapia complementaria con LTRA o teofilina no ha logrado controlar la enfermedad, en ellos se requiere contar con otras alternativas de tratamiento. Adicional a ello, existen pacientes para quienes alguna de las terapias complementarias está contraindicada, dejando de ser una opción adicional de tratamiento. En este contexto, se ha solicitado al IETSI la evaluación del uso fuera del petitorio de bromuro de tiotropio. El bromuro de tiotropio, también llamado únicamente tiotropio, es un agente anticolinérgico de acción prolongada que presenta afinidad especifica por los receptores muscarínicos (M 1 a M 5 ). La acción del fármaco se da a nivel de vías áreas, donde inhibe los receptores muscarínicos del músculo liso, generando broncodilatación. A los medicamentos de su clase se les conoce como antagonistas muscarínicos de acción prolongada (LAMA, por sus siglas en inglés). A la fecha (Julio 2017) la evidencia identificada en relación al uso de bromuro de tiotropio en el tratamiento de asma severa corresponde a dos GPC (GINA 2017 y BTS/SIGN 2016), una ETS (SMC), un documento de consejo (NICE), un metanálisis (MA), y dos ECAs gemelos (PrimoTinA I y II). Las GPC de GINA y BTS/SIGN son homogéneas en sus recomendaciones. Así, ambas GPC mencionan el uso de tiotropio como una alternativa de tratamiento complementario en pacientes con asma pobremente controlada a pesar del uso de dosis máximas de ICS más LABA, al mismo nivel que el uso de LTRAs o teofilina. Dichas recomendaciones responden indirectamente a la pregunta PICO de interés del dictamen en la medida en que no especifican el uso consecutivo de las alternativas mencionadas frente a ausencia de mejoría de los síntomas, por lo que no hacen referencia específicamente a la población de interés del dictamen. Tanto el MA como los ensayos gemelos PrimoTinA I y II evidencian que el uso de tiotropio como terapia complementaria no ofrece ningún beneficio sobre el uso de ICS/LABA en cuanto a las variables de relevancia clínica como la ocurrencia de exacerbaciones, la calidad de vida y el control de la enfermedad, en pacientes con asma severa. Ambos estudios (el MA y los ensayos) constituyen evidencia indirecta para responder a la pegunta PICO ya que incluyen únicamente a la población de asmáticos que ha recibido ICS/LABA o solo ICS, mientras que la población de la pregunta PICO incluye también a aquellos que han recibido además LTRAs y no son tributarios a teofilina. A pesar de ser evidencia indirecta, es posible aplicar dichos resultados a la población de interés del dictamen ya que se observan resultados no favorables en una población que ha recibido menos líneas de tratamiento, por lo que se esperaría que en una población que ha pasado por más tratamientos este resultado negativo se mantenga. A manera de información adicional de relevancia, los elaboradores de las guías resaltan que para pasar a una siguiente alternativa de tratamiento es necesario corroborar la adherencia a los tratamientos empleados previamente, así como la ausencia de factores externos irritantes que puedan provocar exacerbaciones y la presencia de comorbilidades no controladas apropiadamente. Asimismo, hacen hincapié en que se debe evaluar la técnica empleada por los pacientes al usar el inhalador, ya que ello influye grandemente en la eficacia del fármaco. CONCLUSIÓN: El Instituto de Evaluación de Tecnologías en Salud e Investigación (IETSI) no aprueba el uso de bromuro de tiotropio en pacientes con asma severa no controlada con ICS/LABA y LTRAs y no tributarios a teofilina.

Itch in Urticaria Management.

Urticaria is a common skin disorder defined by the occurrence of itchy and even painful wheals, angioedema, or both. The lifetime prevalence for its acute and chronic form is 20 and 1%, respectively. The patients' quality of life is impaired because of itch, disfigurement, and high associated comorbidity. To understand the pathophysiology of the wheal in order to ensure a correct therapeutic approach is critical. Mast cells are the primary effector cells in urticaria, which produce and secrete a variety of inflammatory mediators, mainly histamine. Their peripheral effects are responsible for the signs and symptoms of the disease, such as cutaneous swelling and pruritus. Management of itch in urticaria includes both nonpharmacological (avoidance or minimization of aggravating factors) and pharmacological treatments. The main therapeutic objective is to obtain complete relief of signs (hives and angioedema) and symptoms (pruritus) as quickly as possible. Licensed and up-dosed nonsedating H1-antihistamines are currently the first- and second-line therapies according to the European guidelines. When antihistamines are not enough, other treatments include anti-IgE antibodies, mast cell modulators, mast cell mediator blockers, and immunomodulators. As the knowledge of the pathogenesis of urticaria improves, the development of alternative therapies targeting these pathways may improve the patient's quality of life through the control of the pruritus, its main symptom.

[EFFECT OF PROPHYLACTIC TREATMENT BY LEUKOTORIENE RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST ON JAPANESE CEDAR POLLINOSIS OF PRE- AND POST-SCHOOL CHILDREN JAPANESE CEDAR POLLINOSIS].

UNLABELLED: Backgroud: It has already been reported that the prophylactic treatment by leukotoriene receptor antagonists is more effective on reducing symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis than the authentic treatment after the pollen dispersal. However, the treatment above has never evaluated in children cases around school age in ENT out-patient clinic. This study about the prophylactic treatment was planned to focus on the effect in the generation of pre- and post-elementary school entrance. METHODS: Children of pre- and post-elementary school entrance were enrolled for this study. This study was achieved in seasons of Japanese cedar pollinosis both in 2013 and 2014, and was designed as the comparison of clinical symptoms and quality of life in between two such groups as one group with the prophylactic treatment and another with the authentic treatment. RESULTS: Efficacy of prophylactic treatment by leukotoriene receptor antagonists was elucidated as follows; quality of sleep was significantly better both in 2013 and 2014, and more kinds of clinical symptoms or quality of life impairments were significantly more suppressed than in the group with the authentic treatment in 2014 when less pollen was dispersed. CONCLUSION: Even in the children of pre- and post-elementary school entrance, the prophylactic treatment by leukotoriene receptor antagonists is more effective on reducing symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis than the authentic treatment.