title: Evaluation by (99m)Tc-pertechnetate scintigraphy of the effect of levocetirizine on salivary glands function, in allergic rhinitis patients.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of levocetirizine (xyzal) on salivary glands function in patients with allergic rhinitis using technetium-99m pertechnetate ((99m)Tc-P) salivary gland scintigraphy. The study population consisted of 67 patients with allergic rhinitis and 31 healthy controls (14 males and 17 females, mean age 30.1+/-6.8 years). The patients were divided into two groups: an untreated patient Group of 32 patients, 17 males and 15 females, mean age 29.9+/-6.5 years and a levocetirizine-treated with 5mg.day(-1) for 4 weeks patient Group, consisted of 35 patients, 16 males and 19 females, mean age 33.5+/-7.8 years. All patients and healthy controls underwent salivary glands scintigraphy. After the intravenous administration of 185 MBq of (99m)Tc-P, dynamic salivary glands scintigraphy was performed for 25 min. By the time-activity curves, the following glandular function parameters were calculated for the parotid and submandibular salivary glands: uptake ratio, maximum accumulation, and ejection fraction. Our results showed: All functional parameters obtained for the untreated patient Group were significantly lower than for the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in any functional parameters between the levocetirizine-treated patient Group and healthy controls (P>0.05). In conclusion, results of our study indicate that patients with allergic rhinitis treated with levocetirizine showed a significantly higher salivary glands function compared with untreated patients and healthy controls. Levocetirizine treatment showed no side effects on salivary glands function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Ataturk University, Medical School, 25240 Erzurum, Turkey. bedriseven@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bedri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seven
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Yoruk
authors.forename: Erhan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Varoglu
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ucuncu
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Arif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kursad Ayan
authors.forename: Yavuz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sutbeyaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000187:drug effects; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C472067:levocetirizine; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m; D017332:Cetirizine