Combination therapeutic approach for asthma and allergic rhinitis.
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.
Chauhan
Bhupendrasinh
B
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, B. V. Patel Pharmaceutical Education and Research Development (PERD) Centre, Ahmedabad - 380 054, Gujarat, India.
Patel
Madhabhai
M
Padhc
Harish
H
Nivsarkar
Manish
M
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
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