Anti-leukotrienes for asthma.

The field of cysteinyl leukotriene research has moved forward considerably in the past two years. Significant recent advances have been made in three areas: genetic control of the cysteinyl leukotriene response, in which alterations in both the promoter region and in transcribed mRNA have been described; the mechanisms by which cysteinyl leukotrienes promote the development of inflammation; and extensions in the clinical arena that support broader positioning of leukotriene modifiers in the therapy of asthma and allergic diseases.