Levocetirizine in the treatment of allergic diseases.
BACKGROUND
Levocetirizine, the R-enantiomer of cetirizine dihydrochloride, is a new molecule with a potent and selective antihistamine activity.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the evidence that levocetirizine is an effective therapy for allergic disease.


METHODS
Evaluation of published articles in English, or having an English abstract.


RESULTS
Clinical trials indicate that levocetirizine is safe and effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The compound shows a rapid onset of action, high bioavailability and affinity for the H1 receptor. Moreover, this molecule demonstrates many anti-inflammatory effects that enhance the clinical therapeutic benefit not only in short-term but also in long-term treatments, as reported in recent trials utilizing levocetirizine for several months.


CONCLUSIONS
Levocetirizine confirms its safe effective activity for treatment of allergic disease in both adults and children.
Scordamaglia
Francesca
F
Genoa University, Department of Internal Medicine, Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Genoa, Italy.
Compalati
Enrico
E
Baiardini
Ilaria
I
Scordamaglia
Antonio
A
Canonica
Giorgio Walter
GW
D001682:Biological Availability; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D011969:Receptors, Histamine H1; C472067:levocetirizine; D017332:Cetirizine