Original Title: Montelukast en pacientes con rinitis alérgica crónica sin asma

Authors' recommendations: CONCLUSIONS Moderate-quality evidence shows that the effectiveness of montelukast monotherapy in chronic allergic rhinitis with no asthma is lower than that of topical corticosteroids and similar or lower than that of antihistamine monotherapy. Montelukast in combination with antihistamines, compared with antihistamines monotherapy, showed a mild clinical improvement in reducing the intensity of daily nasal symptoms, and there were no significant differences in nighttime nasal symptoms, eye symptoms and quality of life between both treatment groups. Montelukast in combination with antihistamines in patients with chronic allergic rhinitis and no asthma proved to be less effective than topical nasal corticosteroids in terms of nasal symptoms and quality of life. There is consensus among the different clinical practice guidelines identified not to use leukotriene inhibitors as first-line therapy for chronic allergic rhinitis. Its use is restricted to supplementary therapy in patients with allergic rhinitis not responding to initial treatment with corticoids and antihistamines. Although no cost-effectiveness studies conducted in Argentina have been found, the high cost of this technology, when compared with its comparators, and the poor clinical benefit would suggest it is not a cost-effective intervention.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2018

URL for published report: https://www.iecs.org.ar/home-ets/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: Argentina

Organisation Name: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy

Contact Address: Dr. Emilio Ravignani 2024, Buenos Aires - Argentina, C1414 CABA

Contact Name: info@iecs.org.ar

Contact Email: info@iecs.org.ar

Copyright: Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy (IECS)