Singulair Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, Halifax Nova Scotia, Dalhousie University Halifax, Dalhousie University Halifax Nova Scotia, Mast Cells

Doctors should realize that we continue to learn something new every day. Nobody should ever believe that we know the answers. Everything should be constantly questioned.

My life is an example of "who knew" but I am the miracle, the lucky one. I was born pre-mature, very small for almost 60 years ago. Another baby was also born on that day pre-mature. We were placed in the incubator together. No one really knew the dangers of oxygen levels and the eyes. The baby who was next to me has lived as a permanently blind -- never saw anything about the world. I somehow never opened my eyes. I wasn't breathing well and was more knocked out. But one baby lived normally and the other didn't. So there will always be a "who knew."
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I have been concerned that the fact that Singulair binds with a leukotriene receptor on the mast cell and blocks one of it's function has possibly opened up a pandora's box of other problems. As I said before, there is communication between several receptors on the mast cell that determine how it performs it's normal function. I finally found an abstract written pretty clearly that does reference some of these concerns.

J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2004 Jul;114(1):21-7. Links
Mast cells in innate immunity.Marshall JS, Jawdat DM.
Dalhousie Inflammation Group, the Departments of Pathology and Microbiology & Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. jean.marshall@dal.ca

Mast cells have been most extensively studied in their traditional role as an early effector cell of allergic disease. However, in the majority of individuals, it might be the role of this cell as a sentinel in host defense that is most important. Mast cells have been repeatedly demonstrated to play a critical role in defense against bacterial infections, and evidence for their involvement in early responses to viral and fungal pathogens is growing. Mast cells are activated during innate immune responses by multiple mechanisms, including well-established responses to complement components. In addition, novel mechanisms have emerged as a result of the explosion of knowledge in our understanding of pattern-recognition receptors. The mast cell shares many features with other innate immune effector cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages. However, a unique role for mast cells is defined not only by their extensive mediator profile but also by their ability to interact with the vasculature, to expedite selective cell recruitment, and to set the stage for an appropriate acquired response.
Copyright 2004 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology

In other words, mast cells play a key role in the development of the immune system. The child's immune system is changing and developing every day. If we block one of the mast cell's receptors, what are we doing to the entire system.

I have been looking for studies that addressed the long term effects of Singulair on the immune system in other animals like pigs. I am still searching.