Protective effect of loratadine on specific conjunctival provocation test.
The protective effect of loratadine (anti-H1 antagonist) on clinical and cellular processes following the early phase of specific conjunctival provocation test was assessed in 20 patients affected by seasonal allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Patients were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, each being given a single daily dose of loratadine 10 mg or placebo, for 7 days, out of pollen season. Pretreatment with Loratadine resulted in a significant higher allergen threshold dose than placebo (p less than 0.01). Patients treated with loratadine experienced a significant reduction (p less than 0.01) in conjunctival symptom severity as compared with placebo, following conjunctival challenge. Finally, the number of inflammatory cells was lower in the loratadine-treated patients compared to the placebo group (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, loratadine exerts a significant protective effect on the early phase cellular and clinical events of conjunctival reaction induced by allergen challenge in atopic patients.
DIMI Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Italy.
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Ciprandi
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Buscaglia
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Pesce
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Marchesi
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Canonica
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000187:drug effects*; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D010919:Placebos
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010919:Placebos; D003533:Cyproheptadine; D017336:Loratadine