Desloratadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is a common dermatologic disorder that may severely impair quality of life. Patients may suffer symptoms such as pruritus and disfigurement due to wheals for years or decades. Advances have been made in the last 10 years with the identification of an autoimmune pathogenesis in a significant proportion of patients. Despite this, treatment remains symptomatic, and antihistamines are the first choice of therapy once the diagnosis of CIU has been established. The goal of treatment is rapid, long-lasting symptom relief, and currently available antihistamines fail to provide this in many cases. Desloratadine is a novel, potent H1-receptor antagonist with additional inhibitory effects on inflammatory mediators such as cytokines and adhesion molecules. Newly published data on the efficacy and safety of desloratadine in CIU is highly encouraging, suggesting that the drug may improve symptom control above that currently available.
Division of Environmental Dermatology and Allergy GSF TUM, Dermatologische Klinik, Techniche Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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J
Ring
R
R
Hein
A
A
Gauger
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D016207:Cytokines / Q000187:drug effects; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014581:Urticaria / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology
D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D016207:Cytokines; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D017336:Loratadine; C121345:desloratadine