Connection between dermatomyositis and montelukast sodium use: A case report

Abstract

BACKGROUND Montelukast or Singulair is a leukotriene receptor antagonist that reduces inflammation and relaxes the smooth muscles. It is known to be a safe and tolerable drug; nevertheless, it might be associated with several mild to severe adverse effects, one of which is dermatomyositis. Dermatomyositis is a rare acquired autoimmune myositis of unknown cause affecting adults and children. The literature has infrequently reported the association between dermatomyositis and montelukast use. CASE SUMMARY The current study reports a case of a 48-year-old black woman with a previous history of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinosinusitis who presented with typical signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis which were confirmed by investigations. Before developing dermatomyositis, the patient was prescribed montelukast for atopy and consumed the drug for five months. After administration of prednisolone, the patient had a significant improvement and is still being followed up. CONCLUSION Even though montelukast is widely used and believed to be a safe drug for managing several conditions, the present case report highlights the possibility of adverse effects of montelukast. Therefore, future studies with advanced study designs are highly recommended to investigate the association between dermatomyositis and montelukast use. Aly MH et al. Dermatomyositis and montelukast sodium use WJD https://www.wjgnet.com 11 September 2, 2022 Volume 10 Issue 2