brand logo

Am Fam Physician. 2008;78(1):112-114

Author disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Clinical Question

Do leukotriene receptor antagonists have any effect on atopic dermatitis or other allergic skin disorders?

Evidence-Based Answer

Evidence from small trials suggests that leukotriene receptor antagonists may have short-term effectiveness in reducing sleep disturbance and the observed intensity of atopic dermatitis in adults and children. (Strength of Recommendation [SOR]: B, based on small randomized controlled trials [RCTs] and case series). There are inconsistent results regarding the effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonists for treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria when used alone or in combination with antihistamines (SOR: B, based on meta-analysis of small, limited trials). Larger clinical trials are needed to assess the benefit of leukotriene receptor antagonists for immune-mediated skin disorders.

Evidence Summary

Leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as montelukast (Singulair) and zafirlukast (Accolate), have been used for the treatment of asthma and allergies; however, their role in the treatment of skin disorders (e.g., atopic dermatitis, urticaria) is uncertain.

Leukotriene receptor antagonists have been studied in treating atopic dermatitis for up to eight weeks. In four trials enrolling adults, the effectiveness of montelukast was measured using clinical scoring of the severity of atopic dermatitis. The scoring assessed the patient-oriented outcome of severity of insomnia, as well as the distribution of the atopic dermatitis and the intensity of its appearance (e.g., erythema, edema, oozing, excoriation, lichenification, xerosis).14 The studies demonstrated a statistical reduction in sleep disturbance and the observed intensity of the rash. One case series and one small RCT suggested that montelukast was effective in treating atopic dermatitis in children.5,6 However, one larger trial of 59 patients with atopic dermatitis demonstrated no difference between montelukast and placebo.7 The only study evaluating leukotriene receptor antagonists in atopic dermatitis beyond eight weeks failed to demonstrate effectiveness.8 Table 1 describes studies that used montelukast to treat atopic dermatitis.16

There is one meta-analysis of the effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonists as a class, as well as one of the effectiveness of montelukast individually in the treatment of chronic or physical urticaria.9,10 The authors of the meta-analysis on leukotriene receptor antagonists reviewed 26 studies involving more than 500 patients using leukotriene receptor antagonists; 11 were case reports, seven were case series, and eight represented controlled trials. The authors reported that evidence for the effectiveness of montelukast and zafirlukast for urticaria was limited.9 Authors of the meta-analysis on montelukast found six clinical trials using montelukast alone or in combination with H1 antihistamines.10 Studies reviewed were reported to be inconsistent in demonstrating the effectiveness of montelukast. Each meta-analysis recommended large-scale, prospective, controlled trials to determine which patients with urticaria may benefit from treatment with leukotriene receptor antagonists.

Study typeNo. of PatientsComparisonDurationReported outcome
Single-blind RCT1 32 adultsCetirizine (Zyrtec), clarithromycin (Biaxin), topical corticosteroids, hydrating agentsSix weeksNo difference
Double-blind RCT2 20 adultsPlaceboSix weeksFavors LRAs
Open-label RCT3 31 adultsPlaceboFavors LRAs
Double-blind crossover trial4 Eight adultsEight weeksFavors LRAs
Case series5 Seven children12 weeksFavors LRAs
Double-blind crossover trial6 15 childrenPlaceboFour weeksFavors LRAs

One report of Prescription-Event Monitoring in England evaluated the effectiveness of montelukast in patients with atopic dermatitis or urticaria. Of the 16 cases reported, five patients reported improvement with montelukast, 10 patients had an alternative explanation for improvement, and one patient could not be assessed.11

Recommendations from Others

No recommendations for the use of leukotriene receptor antagonists to treat urticaria or atopic dermatitis were found in a search of the National Library of Medicine, the National Guideline Clearinghouse, or the American Academy of Dermatology. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (montelukast and zafirlukast) do not have approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for dermatologic uses.

Clinical Commentary

Allergic skin disorders, typified by atopic dermatitis, are a frustrating ailment often seen by family physicians, especially in children. There are many tried (and some “true”) treatments, but most of these treatments are inconvenient to use or are not universally effective. Although it would be wonderful to have a new treatment that is effective and easy (e.g., once daily oral treatment), this review summarizes the relatively modest effectiveness of leukotriene receptor antagonists for allergic skin disorders. Fortunately, topical treatment with corticosteroids or the more expensive calcineurin inhibitors (immune modulators), pimecrolimus (Elidel) and tacrolimus (Protopic), are highly effective. In addition, I have found that time-tested and first-line recommendations, such as warm (versus hot) baths or showers, application of emollients, or oral antihistamines (to reduce itching) can also be useful. Although these treatments may not be glamorous, they are effective.

Clinical Inquiries provides answers to questions submitted by practicing family physicians to the Family Physicians Inquiries Network (FPIN). Members of the network select questions based on their relevance to family medicine. Answers are drawn from an approved set of evidence-based resources and undergo peer review. The strength of recommendations and the level of evidence for individual studies are rated using criteria developed by the Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group (https://www.cebm.net).

The complete database of evidence-based questions and answers is copyrighted by FPIN. If interested in submitting questions or writing answers for this series, go to https://www.fpin.org or email: questions@fpin.org.

This series is coordinated by John E. Delzell Jr., MD, MSPH, associate medical editor.

A collection of FPIN’s Clinical Inquiries published in AFP is available at https://www.aafp.org/afp/fpin.

Continue Reading


More in AFP

More in PubMed

Copyright © 2008 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP.  See permissions for copyright questions and/or permission requests.