Topical levocabastine is more effective than sodium cromoglycate for the prophylaxis and treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
The efficacy, tolerability, and adverse-effect profile of the recently developed, topical antihistamine levocabastine were compared with those of sodium cromoglycate in a 4-week double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 95 patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. At the end of the trial, global therapeutic efficacy was considered to be excellent or good in 87% of levocabastine-treated patients, as compared with 68% of sodium cromoglycate-treated patients (P = 0.006) and 63% of those who received placebo (P = 0.05). After 4 weeks of treatment, levocabastine patients had experienced significantly greater relief from their most severe ocular symptom than patients in the sodium cromoglycate group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, 37% of levocabastine-treated patients were virtually symptom-free for at least 75% of the treatment period, as compared with only 6% of patients in the sodium cromoglycate group (P < 0.01) and 4% of those who received placebo (P < 0.01). Moreover, this trend was maintained on days when the pollen count was high, when the corresponding figures were 33%, 6% (P = 0.02), and 4% (P = 0.02), respectively. Levocabastine was well tolerated. Indeed, the incidence of adverse reactions was no greater in the levocabastine group than in the placebo group. Topical levocabastine is an effective and well-tolerated drug for the prophylaxis and treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis.
Davies
B H
BH
Asthma and Allergy Unit, Sully Hospital, Penarth, South Glamorgan, UK.
Mullins
J
J
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; C047340:levocabastine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium