Desloratadine relieves nasal congestion and improves quality-of-life in persistent allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), particularly nasal congestion, can impair quality-of-life (QoL). However, only a modest correlation exists between these symptoms and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores, suggesting that both be evaluated for a complete assessment of health.


METHODS
Subjects with a > or =2-year history of moderate-to-severe AR to dust mite or cat dander were randomized to desloratadine 5 mg/day (n = 293) or placebo/day (n = 291) for 28 days. Primary endpoint was change from baseline in a.m./p.m. nasal congestion score. Secondary outcomes included change from baseline in total nasal symptom score, individual symptom scores and RQLQ scores (completed on days 1, 7, and 28).


RESULTS
The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma criteria for persistent allergic rhinitis (PER) were fulfilled by 99% of subjects in the placebo arm. Between-treatment difference in a.m./p.m. nasal congestion score, observed from day 8 onward, significantly favored desloratadine (P = 0.0003). Desloratadine significantly improved a.m./p.m. nasal congestion and RQLQ scores after 1 week and at treatment end (P < 0.05). Improvements in 5 of 7 RQLQ domain scores exceeded the minimal important difference. On days 7 and 28, desloratadine was also significantly superior to placebo in mean change from baseline in a.m./p.m. total nasal symptom score and rhinorrhea score (both P < or = 0.01). Symptomatic benefit was primarily driven by improvement in nasal congestion and rhinorrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Desloratadine 5 mg/day significantly improved symptoms associated with PER, including nasal congestion, and provided significant improvement in QoL after 1 week of treatment.
Holmberg
K
K
Departments of Respiratory Medicine/Allergology and Otorhinolaryngology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Göteborg, Sweden.
Tonnel
A-B
AB
Dreyfus
I
I
Olsson
P
P
Cougnard
J
J
Mesbah
K
K
Devillier
P
P
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D017336:Loratadine; C121345:desloratadine