The effects of bilastine compared with cetirizine, fexofenadine, and placebo on allergen-induced nasal and ocular symptoms in patients exposed to aeroallergen in the Vienna Challenge Chamber.
OBJECTIVE
This double-blind cross-over study compared the potential of bilastine, cetirizine, and fexofenadine to relieve the symptoms of allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
Seventy-five allergic volunteers were challenged with grass pollen in the Vienna Challenge Chamber (VCC) on two consecutive days of allergen provocation; 6 h on day 1 and 4 h day 2. Bilastine 20 mg, cetirizine 10 mg, fexofenadine 120 mg, or placebo were taken orally 2 h after the start of provocation on day 1 only. Total nasal symptom scores, the global symptom scores, nasal secretions, and eye symptoms were assessed on both day 1 and day 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Bilastine had a rapid onset of action, within 1 h, and a long duration of action, greater than 26 h. Cetirizine was similar. Fexofenadine was similar on day 1 but less effective on day 2, indicating a shorter duration of action. Bilastine, like cetirizine and fexofenadine, was safe and well tolerated in this study.
Horak
Friedrich
F
ENT Department, Medical University Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18, 1090, Vienna, Austria. friedrich.horak@vienna.at
Zieglmayer
Petra
P
Zieglmayer
René
R
Lemell
Patrick
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000485:Allergens; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010880:Piperidines; D010919:Placebos; D016593:Terfenadine; C093230:fexofenadine; C445659:bilastine; D017332:Cetirizine