BackgroundChemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTH2) antagonists are novel agents for asthma but with controversial efficacies in clinical trials. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the roles of CRTH2 antagonists in asthma.MethodsWe searched in major databases for RCTs comparing CRTH2 antagonists with placebo in asthma. Fixed- or random-effects model was performed to calculate mean differences (MD), risk ratio (RR) or risk difference (RD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).ResultsA total of 14 trails with 4671 participants were included in our final analysis. Instead of add-on treatment of CRTH2 antagonists to corticosteroids, CRTH2 antagonist monotherapy significantly improved pre-bronchodilator FEV1 (MD = 0.09, 95% CI 0.04 to 0.15, P = 0.0005), FEV1% predicted (MD = 3.65, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.14, P = 0.004), and AQLQ (MD = 0.25, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.41, P = 0.002), and reduced asthma exacerbations (RR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.85, P = 0.01). Rescue use of SABA was significantly decreased in both CRTH2 antagonist monotherapy (MD = - 0.04, 95% CI -0.05 to - 0.03, P ConclusionsCRTH2 antagonist monotherapy can safely improve lung function and quality of life, and reduce asthma exacerbations and SABA use in asthmatics.
Journal article
Respiratory research
11/2018
19
Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China School of Medicine and West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No.37, Guoxue Alley, Chengdu, 610041, China.
Th2 Cells, Humans, Asthma, Receptors, Prostaglandin, Receptors, Immunologic, Anti-Asthmatic Agents, Treatment Outcome, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic