[Effects of H1 blocker and inhaled corticosteroids on asthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the therapeutic effects of H(1) blocker in combination with low dose inhaled corticosteroid on allergic asthma.


METHODS
A multi-center, double blind, randomized, placebo control study was conducted in 67 patients with mild to moderate allergic asthma. Patients were randomized to receive either Loratadine 10 mg or placebo twice a day on the basis of inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (400 microg/d for 14 days, then reduced to 200 microg/d) for 5.3 +/- 1.3 months. Symptom scores of asthma, frequencies of episode of rhinitis and common cold and doses of inhaled Salbutamol as rescue drug were recorded. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PD(20) FEV(1) in response to Histamine) and serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured before and after the treatment.


RESULTS
After treatment, there was much better improvement in symptom score (2.4 +/- 0.9 vs 3.1 +/- 0.9, P < 0.01), symptomatic days due to rhinitis (4.0 +/- 1.2 d/week vs 1.9 +/- 0.9 d/week, P < 0.001), episode of common cold symptom (0.8 +/- 0.5 time vs 1.1 +/- 0.4 time, P < 0.001), average doses of inhaled beta(2) agonist as rescue medication (2.6 +/- 0.9 puff/week vs 3.7 +/- 0.8 puff/week, P < 0.001) and bronchial responsiveness (P < 0.05) in Loratadine group as compared with the control group. However, there was no significant change in serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels after treatment in both groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of low dose inhaled corticosteroid, orally administered Loratadine significantly improves the therapeutic efficacy of asthma in patients with allergic asthma and rhinitis.
He
Wei-qun
WQ
Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou 510120, China.
Zheng
Jin-ping
JP
Ran
Pei-xin
PX
Liu
Han-zhang
HZ
Lin
Hong
H
Cai
Ding-ming
DM
Xu
Jin-ming
JM
Zhong
Nan-shan
NS
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D017336:Loratadine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D017336:Loratadine; D001507:Beclomethasone