Effect of Pharmacological Treatment on Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction and Allergic Inflammatory Response in Endurance Athletes.

Only 13 athletes received treatment, so the result is based on a small group. Of 103 invited, 31 were included, and 9 were excluded, so the sample may not represent the wider athlete population. Athletes were not blinded, and treatment was assigned by test response rather than random allocation. Follow-up was only 30 days, so durability and possible medication tolerance were not assessed. Exercise testing was done in a laboratory, not during competition. All participants were elite male endurance athletes, so findings may not apply to women or non-elite athletes. Medication was stepped by severity, so the contribution of corticosteroid, long-acting beta-agonist, short-acting beta-agonist, and montelukast cannot be separated.

The only reported declaration is funding from Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico.

Do not conclude that 30 days of treatment works for all endurance athletes or reduces allergic inflammation; only 13 treated athletes were studied, and no allergic inflammatory response measures changed.