Cetirizine treatment of rhinitis in children with pollen allergy: evidence of its antiallergic activity.
BACKGROUND
Cetirizine is an antihistamine, largely used in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, which also exerts anti-allergic activity.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cetirizine as treatment for children with rhinitis due to pollen allergy, and to evaluate its anti-allergic activity in such a clinical condition.


METHODS
The study was designed as parallel groups, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized. Twenty allergic children were enroled and subdivided in two groups, receiving a 4 week treatment during the pollen season. The following parameters were monitored: clinical symptoms evaluated by the allergist before and after treatment and by the patients through a daily diary card, inflammatory cells count, expression of ICAM-1 on nasal epithelial cells, inflammatory mediator levels in nasal lavage and peripheral blood before and after treatment, and pollen counts.


RESULTS
This study shows that cetirizine treatment is able to reduce: clinical symptoms (P < 0.01), inflammatory cell infiltrate (P < 0.03), ICAM-1 expression on epithelial cells (P < 0.05), and soluble ICAM-1 (P < 0.05) and ECP (P < 0.05) in nasal lavage.


CONCLUSIONS
Cetirizine is able to clinically improve nasal symptoms due to pollen allergy and to reduce allergic inflammation, which is related to allergen exposure.
Ciprandi
G
G
Department of Internal Medicine, Genoa University, Italy.
Tosca
M
M
Ricca
V
V
Passalacqua
G
G
Riccio
A M
AM
Bagnasco
M
M
Canonica
G W
GW
D000293:Adolescent; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012621:Seasons
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D012260:Ribonucleases; D017332:Cetirizine