[Cardiac safety evaluation of loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in elderly patients].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the cardiac safety of the second-generation H1-antihistamine loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis in elderly patients.


METHODS
Forty patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were enrolled in the study. There were 25 males and 15 females, aged 50 to 88 years (mean, 64.4-years-old). 17 cases (42.5%) had a history of cardiovascular diseases and/or presented abnormal ECG parameters, but had no prolonged QT-interval. The subjects received loratadine 10 mg once-daily for 30 days. A series of baseline ECG recordings was obtained before treatment. ECG effects of the treatments were then compared with the baseline ECGs.


RESULTS
There were no changes in sinus rhythm in all patients 30 days after treatment by loratadine. No statistically significant difference was found between the heart rates, P durations, PR and QRS intervals at baseline and end-point ECGs (P > 0.05), with no significant prolongation of the QT as well as QTc corrected for heart rate using Bazett' formula (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest no cardiotoxicity of loratadine, at the usual recommended dose, in long-term treatment of allergic rhinitis in the elderly.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jiangsu Provincial Geriatrics Hospital and Research Institute, Nanjing 210024, China.
Ying
Y
Liu
Lei
L
Cheng
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D017336:Loratadine