Pharmacoeconomics of levocetirizine in allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria: considerations for the USA.
BACKGROUND
Levocetirizine, a recent, second-generation oral antihistamine, was approved by the US FDA in May 2007 to treat symptoms of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria.


OBJECTIVE
To review the economic literature for levocetirizine.


METHODS
Two reviewers conducted a systematic review of the literature to identify abstracts that met the inclusion criteria. Abstracts that were considered acceptable were retrieved with full text for further assessment.


RESULTS
A total of 82 potential studies were identified. After reviewing abstracts, 11 articles were preselected for potential inclusion. Of the 11 full-text articles, three articles met the inclusion criteria.


CONCLUSIONS
The pharmacoeconomic literature for levocetirizine was limited. The findings were consistent across the literature, suggesting levocetirizine improved outcomes, leading to incremental cost savings and cost-effectiveness. Since many of the available levocetirizine data come from European studies, differences in practice patterns and medical resources should be considered when extrapolating data to a US clinical setting.
Consultant in Allergy, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Clinical Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. ldubuske@partners.org.
Lawrence M
LM
Dubuske
Brian
B
Seal
Martin Cj
MC
Brown