The effect of a combined therapy with a histamine H1 antagonist and a chemical mediator release inhibitor on allergic conjunctivitis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of a combined therapy with levocabastine hydrochloride ophthalmic suspension and pemirolast potassium ophthalmic solution compared to single therapy with levocabastine hydrochloride ophthalmic suspension alone.


METHODS
Thirty-two allergic conjunctivitis patients were randomized to combined-treatment (n = 15) or single-treatment groups (n = 17). The improvement of subjective symptoms as well as objective findings were evaluated.


RESULTS
The degree of improvement was significantly higher in the combined-treatment group for lacrimation (p = 0.008) among the subjective symptoms, for conjunctival edema (p = 0.030), eyelid edema (p = 0.032) and conjunctival papilla formation(p = 0.040) among the objective findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Both objective assessments and subjective symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis showed the greatest improvements when patients were treated with combined therapy as compared to single-agent therapy. The enhanced benefits of combined therapy may result from these agents having different mechanisms of action.
Fujishima
Hiroshi
H
Department of Ophthalmology, International University of Health and Welfare, Mita Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. fujishima@iuhw.ac.jp
Fukagawa
Kazumi
K
Tanaka
Mari
M
Uchio
Eiichi
E
Takamura
Etsuko
E
Nakagawa
Yayoi
Y
Miyazaki
Dai
D
Fukushima
Atsuki
A
Okamoto
Shigeki
S
Yokoi
Norihiko
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011725:Pyridines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D011744:Pyrimidinones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010880:Piperidines; D011725:Pyridines; D011744:Pyrimidinones; C055139:pemirolast; C047340:levocabastine