title: Combination therapeutic approach for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asthma and allergic rhinitis are symptomatically as well as pathophysiologically overlapping conditions and their prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Despite significant progress in pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis and availability of several therapies in recent years, a true and complete cure for asthma and allergic rhinitis so far seems out of reach.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review clinical efficacy & tolerability, pharmacoeconomics, quality of life, outcomes of several clinical trails based on combination therapy for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer-assisted MEDLINE searches for articles on phathophysiology, clinical trials on combination therapy for asthma and allergic rhinitis, treatment guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published articles and pertinent abstracts (1981--2006) on the topics identified above were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The pathophysiology of asthma and allergic rhinitis is a complex cascade of events and mono therapy with drugs, which inhibits synthesis and release of a mediator or blocks the receptors of respective mediators, does not result in complete relief in the symptoms. From several clinical trials it can be concluded that combination therapy with two or more drugs may provide additive or synergistic benefits in blocking pathophysiological endpoints and also complement each other by blocking a broad spectrum of inflammatory processes than that provided by either drug alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the available scientific data from clinical trials it can be concluded that combination therapeutic approach may be a viable option for the treatment of asthma and allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development (PERD) Centre, Ahmedabad - 380 054, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Bhupendrasinh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: Madhabhai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Harish
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Padhc
authors.forename: Manish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nivsarkar
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011788:Quality of Life; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D014663:Nasal Decongestants