Asthma drug linked with Churg-Strauss syndrome

The Food and Drug Administration in the United States has warned that zafirlukast (Accolate), a new asthma drug, may be associated with the Churg-Strauss syndrome–a rare and often fatal multisystem vasculitis. The warning was issued after six patients taking the drug developed the syndrome.

Zafirlukast is a leukotriene inhibitor–the first of a new class of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents approved in the United States for prophylaxis against asthma. It has been on the market there since September 1996 and is available in several European countries. The drug is expected to …