Impact of montelukast on asthma associated with rhinitis, and other triggers and co-morbidities.

Rhinitis and other specific triggers or co-morbidities (tobacco exposure, excess weight, aspirin sensitivity or heredity factors) are frequently associated with uncontrolled asthma. Asthma associated with these exacerbating factors appears to be related to an increase in leukotriene-mediated inflammation. We reviewed the role of montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist, in the treatment of asthma associated with these factors by using the PubMed database to search the English and French biomedical literature for articles describing randomized-controlled trials, large observational studies and reviews (published up to May 2012, inclusive). Montelukast, either alone or in combination with other drugs, is an effective treatment against rhinitis-associated asthma. Montelukast also offers therapeutic benefits against exercise-induced asthma or in cases of asthma linked to tobacco exposure, excess weight or aspirin hypersensitivity. Thus, for some patients, montelukast may constitute an alternative to the gold-standard treatment of inhaled corticosteroids. Polymorphisms in several genes encoding proteins of the leukotriene signaling pathway may contribute to the variability in response to montelukast. In conclusion, we have shown that montelukast treatment could be of particular benefit to subgroups of patients with asthma associated with rhinitis, exercise, tobacco exposure, being overweight or aspirin hypersensitivity.