title: Efficacy of mequitazine in comparison with placebo assessed by ocular challenge with allergen in allergic conjunctivitis.
abstract: Pharmacologic intervention in the management of allergic conjunctivitis was evaluated with different topical ocular agents in man. Their effect can be precisely assessed with the conjunctival provocation test (CPT). A potent specific H1-receptor antagonist, 0.05% mequitazine eye-drops, was tested in a double-blind randomized, placebo-controlled study using CPT with grass pollen allergens. Twenty healthy subjects allergic to grass pollen were included outside the pollen season after a positive CPT screening. They received one drop of 0.05% mequitazine in one eye and the vehicle in the contralateral eye in a random order, four times daily for 5 days. CPT was performed 15 min after the last instillation, and the threshold dose inducing a positive reaction was determined. Results were given by Abelson's composite score including redness, chemosis, tearing, and itching. Topical 0.05% mequitazine significantly reduced the composite score compared to placebo. The allergen threshold concentration which induced the positive conjunctival reaction was higher in mequitazine pretreated eyes. No side-effect was reported. These data clearly suggest that mequitazine has potential to treat allergic conjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Service des Maladies Respiratoires, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Persi
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dupin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trinquand
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Michel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bousquet
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006109:Poaceae; D011058:Pollen; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010640:Phenothiazines; C006069:mequitazine