Efficacy of montelukast in children with bronchiolitis

Objective: To compare changes in the levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α in serum,and the pulmonary functions before and after treatment with oral montelukast for evaluating the efficacy of montelukast on bronchiolitis.Methods: Totally 80 children with bronchiolitis were divided randomly into 2 groups(n=40 in each group).They were treated with oral montelukast+conventional therapy or with conventional therapy alone(control).The serum levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay before and after 7-day treatment.In addition,the parameters of pulmonary function,tPTEF/tE and vPTEF/vE,and the clinical scores were determined by pulmonary function instrument.In the same time,the disappearing time of wheezing and wet rale were collected.Results: After 7-day treatment,the serum levels of IL-6,IL-8 and TNF-α were decreased in montelukast group significantly more than those in control group(t=-3.361,P=0.001;t=-4.125,P=0.000;t=-2.489,P=0.015).The parameters of pulmonary function,tPTEF/tE and vPTEF/vE,were significantly higher in montelukast group than in control group(t=3.365,and 2.162;P=0.001,and 0.034).The clinical scores were decreased in montelukast group significantly more than in control group(t=-3.293,P=0.001).The disappearing time of wheezing and wet rale was significantly shorter in montelukast group than in control group(t=-2.847,P=0.006;t=-2.429,P=0.017).Conclusion: Montelukast is effective in the treatment of children with bronchiolitis.It can lower the inflammatory cytokines in serum,reduce the inflammatory response,improve the pulmonary function,and lessen clinical symptoms and physical signs.