An antileukotriene is a drug which functions as a leukotriene-related enzyme inhibitor (arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase) or leukotriene receptor antagonist (cysteinyl leukotriene receptors) and consequently opposes the function of these inflammatory mediators.
Antagonists, such as montelukast, zafirlukast, and pranlukast and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors, like zileuton and hypericum perforatum can be used to treat these diseases.
Leukotriene inhibitors are a class of medications used to treat various conditions, primarily those related to inflammation and respiratory disorders.
Leukotrienes are inflammatory mediators that play a role in allergic reactions and other immune responses.
Leukotriene inhibitors specifically target and inhibit the action of leukotrienes, thus reducing inflammation and the symptoms associated with conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.
There are two main types of leukotriene inhibitors:
1. Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs): These drugs block the receptors that leukotrienes bind to, preventing their action.
Montelukast, zafirlukast, and pranlukast are examples of LTRAs commonly used to manage asthma and allergic rhinitis.
2. 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors (5-LO inhibitors): These medications target the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase, which is responsible for the production of leukotrienes.
By inhibiting this enzyme, the overall production of leukotrienes is reduced. Zileuton is an example of a 5-LO inhibitor used in the treatment of asthma.
Leukotriene inhibitors are typically used as maintenance therapies for chronic conditions rather than for immediate relief of symptoms.
They are often prescribed in combination with other medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids, for optimal control of symptoms and to reduce the need for rescue medications.
Leukotriene receptor antagonists are less effective than corticosteroids for treating asthma, but more effective for treating certain mast cell disorders.
Agents such as montelukast and zafirlukast block the actions of cysteinyl leukotrienes at the CysLT1 receptor on target cells such as bronchial smooth muscle via receptor antagonism.
These modifiers improve asthma symptoms, reduce asthma exacerbations and limit markers of inflammation such as eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.