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Zafirlukast seen as effective
CHICAGO-Patients whose asthma brought them to the ED improved with zafirlukast (Accolate, AstraZeneca), a 20-center study found.
In a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, all 641 ED asthma patients immediately got prednisone and albuterol. But 30 minutes later those who continued to have FEV1 of 70% or less got either a single 20 mg or 160 mg dose of zafirlukast, or placebo. Of 546 patients discharged after 4 hours, all got prednisone for seven days, and beta2 agonists as needed. But 276 also continued on the lower dose zafirlukast twice daily for 28 days.
Reporting at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, Dr. Phillip Korenblat, Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, said the selective peptide leukotriene- receptor antagonist group had reduced need for beta-agonists.-Gideon Zahler
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