title: Futura study: evaluation of efficacy and safety of rupatadine fumarate in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Allergic rhinitis affects 10-30% of the population, negatively impacting one's quality of life and productivity. It has been associated with sinusitis, otitis media, sleep disorders, and asthma. Rupatadine is a second generation antihistamine with increased affinity to histamine receptor H1; it is also a potent PAF (platelet-activating factor) antagonist. It starts acting quite quickly, offers long lasting effect, and reduces the chronic effects of rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  this study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of rupatadine in the treatment of persistent allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  this is a multi-centric open prospective study. This study included 241 patients from 13 centers in Brazil and was held between October of 2004 and August of 2005. Signs and symptoms of rhinitis and tolerance to medication were analyzed after one and two weeks of treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  reduction on general scores from 8.65 to 3.21 on week 2 (p<0.001). All signs and symptoms improved significantly in the first day of treatment (p<0.001), except for nasal congestion and secretion, which improved from the second day of treatment (p<0.001). Adverse events occurred in 19.9% of the cases, 27.7% on week 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  rupatadine effectively controls persistent allergic rhinitis; it is safe and presents low incidence of side effects.
authors.affiliation: University of São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: Olavo de Godoy
authors.initials: Ode G
authors.lastname: Mion
authors.forename: Regis A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Martti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antila
authors.forename: Priscila Bogar
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Rapoport
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rosario
authors.forename: João Ferreira
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Mello Junior
authors.forename: Roberto Eustáquio Santos
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mocellin
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gesu
authors.forename: Dirceu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Solé
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wexler
authors.forename: João Ferreira
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Mello
authors.forename: Fábio Morato
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Maria Letícia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chavarria
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; C103639:rupatadine; D003533:Cyproheptadine