ABSTRACT
Montelukast is one of leukotriene (LT) receptor antagonists, which is safe and effective drug as a combined systemic and topical treatment regimen for treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). The present study aimed to evaluate the role of montelukast treatment in modulation of filaggrin R501X and 2282derl4 mutations in Egyptian patients with atopic dermatitis. Total of (32) patients with AD and 16 healthy non-AD volunteers with no allergic disease were enrolled in this study. Patients were given montelukast sodium 4 mg daily for 2 weeks. SCORAD, total IgE levels and eosinophils counts were measured. Genotyping for FLG gene mutations R501X and 2282del4 were evaluated. Montelukast treatment showed significant improvement in AD patients through the reduction of serum IgE levels, blood eosinophils counts and disease severity. FLG 2282del4 mutation could be detected in 76.9% of the AD patients. FLG 2282del4 mutation was modulated in 4 out of 20 AD patients upon treatment with montelukast. Montelukast treatment could improve the skin barrier integrity through its modulatory effect on FLG mutation 2282del4 in the Egyptian patients.