Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of fexofenadine in the management of chronic idiopathic urticaria: a prospective study with 512 patients.
Five hundred and twelve patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) were treated with fexofenadine at a dose on 180 mg/day. Maximum number of patients were between 20 to 40 years of age and female to male ratio was 1.45:1. The severity of itching was calculated on a scale of 0 to 4 and was recorded by the patients. The mean daily total symptom score (TSS) was measured as sum of the patients' pruritus and number of wheal scores (0 to 7). A mean TSS was determined for each week. Baseline TSS came down to '0' by 4 weeks in all groups except those with TSS 4. There was no correlation between the baseline TSS and degree of improvement. Of 512, 14 (2.73%) patients did not complete the study. The commonest adverse effect was headache (9.04%). There was no report of drowsiness or cardiac arrhythmia. In no patient fexofenadine had to be withdrawn because of its adverse effects.
Division of Dermatology, AMRI Goenka Hospital and Duncan Gleneagles Clinic, Calcutta, India.
Sandipan
S
Dhar
Debasis
D
Basu
Goutam
G
Mistri
Prakash K
PK
Hazra
Subrata
S
Malakar
Ajit K
AK
Dutta