EFFECT OF MONTELUKAST SODIUM ADMINISTRATION ON AIRWAY HYPERSENSITIVITY OF TANNERY WORKERS

Background: Tannery workers are prone to develop Bronchial Hypersensitivity. Objective of this study was to see the role of leukotriene receptor antagonist Monteleukast Sodium (MKS) on airway hypersensitivity in tannery workers. Methods: One-hundred and fifty asymptomatic tannery workers were divided into 3 groups based on their duration of exposure to tannery chemicals, i.e., 6 months to one year Group I, 1-2 years Group II, and 2-5 years Group III, with 50 subjects in each group. After baseline Pulmonary Function Tests (PFTs), subjects were categorized into those with Forced Expiratory Volume in First Second (FEV1) <80%, and those who had FEV1 >80%. Histamine inhalation challenge was given to all subjects with FEV1 >80% via provocative cumulative dose of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV (PD20). Later, MKS was given to subjects for six weeks and PFTs were repeated again. Results: Out of 150 subjects, 34 had FEV1 <80% and 116 had FEV1 >80%. Hyper-responsiveness of airways was affected in 6% subjects in Group-I, 24% in Group-II, and 38% subjects in Group-III. PD20 within subjects of all groups before giving MKS at day 0 and 42 was non-significantly different. After giving MKS, the PD20 at day 42 was significantly improved in all experimental groups as compared to day 0 (p=0.05, p=0.05, and p=0.05 respectively). Conclusion: Tannery workers have high histamine sensitivity and reduced pulmonary efficacy which improves with administration of MKS. Pak J Physiol 2025;21(2):52-55, DOI: https://doi.org/10.69656/pjp.v21i2.1818