J Rhinol.  2013 May;20(1):20-25.

Therapeutic Effect of Combination Treatment of Antihistamine and Montelukast in Allergic Rhinitis

• Son HR
• Lee KI
• Chung YJ
• Mo JH

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Montelukast is a type 1 cysteinyl-leukotrienes receptor antagonist that has been widely used in allergic disease. However, the effect of combination of leukotriene receptor antagonist and antihistamine is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of combination treatment of montelukast and antihistamine, fexofenadine, over antihistamine alone in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
Retrospective chart review of 60 patients with AR was undertaken. Patients were classified into combination group (montelukast and fexofenadine, n=28) and antihistamine only group (fexofenadine, n=32) according to treatment modalities. Questionnaire survey was performed and allergic symptoms (VAS scale, 5pointscale), and SNOT (sinonasal outcome test)-20 score were obtained before and after the treatment.
RESULTS
Mean follow-up duration was 6.7+/-4.6weeks. There was no significant difference in demographic data between two groups. Allergic symptoms and SNOT-20 score(nasal, QOL domain) were improved significantly in both groups after the treatment (all p < 0.001). Combination treatment group showed better improvement in nasal obstruction than antihistamine treatment group(p = 0.03). However, there were no significant differences in other allergic symptoms (rhinorrhea and sneezing) and SNOT-20 between two groups (all p > 0.05, respectively).
CONCLUSION
A combination treatment of montelukast and fexofenadine showed more efficacies in nasal obstruction than single fexofenadine treatment in patients with AR. Therefore, montelukast could be used effectively with antihistamine in patients with AR complaining nasal congestion.

Keyword

Allergic Rhinitis; Leukotriene Receptor Antagonist; Montelukast; Combination Therapy

MeSH Terms

Acetates
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Nasal Obstruction
Quinolines
Receptors, Leukotriene
Retrospective Studies
Rhinitis*
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Terfenadine
Surveys and Questionnaires
Acetates
Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)
Quinolines
Receptors, Leukotriene
Terfenadine