title: Combined treatment of allergic rhinitis with terfenadine and nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug.
abstract: Thirty patient with allergic rhinitis sensitized to Parietaria pollen were enrolled in a double-blind clinical trial in order to evaluate whether the addition of nimesulide, a non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug, to standard antihistamine therapy may improve symptom relief. Patients were randomly divided in two groups: one was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and nimesulide (200 mg/day), the other was given terfenadine (120 mg/day) and placebo. Both treatments lasted 30 days. Clinical efficacy was assessed by physical examination on 1st, 15th, 30th day of treatment, daily self-evaluation of symptom score, and patient's overall judgement at the end of the trial. The group receiving terfenadine + nimesulide reported a significant lower symptom score and gave a better overall evaluation than the group receiving terfenadine + placebo. These results suggest that the addition of nimesulide to antihistamine treatment may be useful to achieve a better relief of symptoms in allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Servizio Autonomo di Allergologia, Istituti Ospitalieri di Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andri
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Senna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Betteli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Givanni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andri
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Scaricabarozzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mezzelani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D013449:Sulfonamides; D016593:Terfenadine; C012655:nimesulide