Pranlukast cuts need for respiratory support in infants with RSV

The use of pranlukast in infants with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections appears to help avoid the need for respiratory support, a recent Japan study has found.

Researchers conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of 147 infants aged <10 months with confirmed RSV infection and treated with pranlukast. The primary outcome was the need for respiratory support using a ventilator, nasal continuous positive airway pressure, or high-flow nasal cannula. A parallel group of 147 matched, infected, non-pranlukast controls was also included.

Over the study period, only five pranlukast-treated infants needed respiratory support, yielding a usage rate of 3.4 percent. Among the matched comparators, 17 eventually needed respiratory support, resulting in a significantly higher rate of 11.6 percent (p=0.01).

In propensity score-matched analysis, multivariable logistic regression found that pranlukast was indeed associated with a significantly lower likelihood of needing respiratory support, reducing such chances by more than 70 percent (odds ratio, 0.27, 95 percent confidence interval, 0.08–0.79; p=0.01).

Despite this benefit, however, the median duration of hospital stay (4 vs 4; p=0.73) and scores in the Global Respiratory Severity Score (2.804 vs 2.869; p=0.96) remained statistically comparable between the groups.

“Pranlukast may be an effective primary treatment for infants with RSV infection, given the lack of availability of specific treatment,” the researchers said. “Prospective studies are required to confirm the beneficial effect of pranlukast treatment in infants with RSV infection.