title: The comparison of the efficacy and safety of cetirizine, oxatomide, ketotifen, and a placebo for the treatment of childhood perennial allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been no study comparing the long-term effects of ketotifen, oxatomide, and cetirizine for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis among children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted a study to compare the efficacy of the three agents for the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis among children.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study consisted of a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized design, comprising 69 perennial allergic rhinitis patients with mite allergy, aged 6 to 12 years, randomly assigned to 1 of 4 test treatment groups for 3 months: 19 in the cetirizine group (10 mg daily), 18 in the ketotifen group (1 mg, twice daily), 16 in the oxatomide group (1 mg/kg, twice daily), and 16 in the placebo group. We used the nasal symptom score of diary card and the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire and eosinophil cation protein peripheral blood total eosinophil count and immunoglobulin E level, eosinophil proportion from a nasal smear, and nasal peak expiratory flow rate to evaluate the effect of the four agents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cetirizine was significantly more effective at reducing the mean rhinorrhea score compared with oxatomide for both weeks 8 and 12 (P < 0.01). Before the end of week 12, cetirizine was significantly more effective than ketotifen (P < 0.01). Cetirizine and oxatomide significantly decreased the mean Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire score compared with the placebo for week 12 (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cetirizine was more effective than oxatomide and ketotifen for the relief of nasal congestion and rhinorrhea, and was responsible for significantly decreasing the eosinophil representation of a posttreatment nasal smear.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Dong-Shang
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Ko-Huang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: Jie-Cheng
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ker-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hong-Sen
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012260:Ribonucleases; D012449:Safety; D012912:Sneezing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D010879:Piperazines; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012260:Ribonucleases; C015408:oxatomide; D007665:Ketotifen; D017332:Cetirizine