Long Acting Beta2 Agonists Versus Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist as Add on Therapy to Corticosteroids for Chronic Asthma Management in Patients of Karachi, Pakistan

Abstract

Asthmatic patients are usually maintained with inhaled corticosteroids but if symptoms are appearing we need to manage asthma with add on therapy either with LABA or leukotriene receptor antagonist. To estimate which maintenance therapy is more effective among LABA with CS or LTRA with CS and which combination is more prescribed in asthmatic patients of Karachi. We take 20 asthmatic patients from diff hospitals of karachi and find out the no of patients were taking corticosteroids mono therapy. Corticosteroids with long acting beta two agonist, corticosteroids with leukotriene receptor antagonist for long term management of asthma. Out of 20 patients 2 patients were the age of below 6 years and all are receiving corticosteroids for maintenance, 5 patients come in the age group of 6-12 years and among them 1 patient was receiving corticosteroid mono therapy for maintenance, 1 patient was receiving combination of LABA with corticosteroid and 3 patient were receiving combination of LTRA's with corticosteroids and the adult patients i.e. of age above 12, receiving corticosteroid combination with montelukast. Asthmatic patients are usually maintained with corticosteroids, if not maintained than add on therapy is started LABA should be added with corticosteroid but if the symptoms still continued after giving LABA then LTRA should be started but according to our result LTRA is more prescribed as maintenance therapy because of severe side effects associated with LABA. However LTRA is less effective than LABA but it is safe for long tern maintenance and can be give prophylactically to prevent from asthmatic symptoms.