Montelukast, sold under the brand name Singulair among others, is a medication used in the maintenance treatment of asthma. It is generally less preferred for this use than inhaled corticosteroids. It is not useful for acute asthma attacks. Other uses include allergic rhinitis and hives of long duration. For allergic rhinitis it is a second-line treatment.Common side effects include abdominal pain, cough, and headache. Severe side effects may include allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis and eosinophilia. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe. Montelukast is in the leukotriene receptor antagonist family of medications. It works by blocking the action of leukotriene D4 in the lungs resulting in decreased inflammation and relaxation of smooth muscle.Montelukast was approved for medical use in the United States in 1998. It is available as a generic medication. In 2020, it was the fourteenth most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 31 million prescriptions. Medical uses
Montelukast is used for a number of conditions including asthma, exercise induced bronchospasm, allergic rhinitis, and urticaria. It is mainly used as a complementary therapy in adults in addition to inhaled corticosteroids, if inhaled steroids alone do not bring the desired effect. It is also used to prevent allergic reactions and asthma flare-ups during the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin. It may also be used as an adjunct therapy in symptomatic treatment of mastocytosis. It is taken by mouth, as a tablet, chewable tablet, or as granules.
Björnstad presented his diagnosis and observations at a medical conference in Copenhagen.Björnstad syndrome is diagnosed by observation of twisted hair, known as pili torti, which can be observed as early as birth. To confirm presence of pili torti, the hair shafts of an individual are examined under an electron microscope. Any infants with confirmed pili torti should undergo a series of auditory tests to evaluate potential sensorineural deafness. Finally, a diagnosis of Björnstad syndrome can be confirmed by genetic testing for mutations in the BCS1L gene. Epidemiology
Björnstad syndrome is extremely rare, with less than 50 documented cases worldwide. In 2013, five individuals from a consanguineous Pakistani family were diagnosed with Björnstad syndrome. They each experienced a varying degree of progressive hearing loss as well as hair loss on the scalp. The males with Björnstad syndrome also experienced shorter stature.Given its autosomal recessive inheritance pattern, Björnstad syndrome should theoretically affect males and females in equal numbers. However, more females than males have been diagnosed with Björnstad syndrome in medical literature. See also
GRACILE syndrome
Mitochondrial complex III deficiency

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