title: Loratadine versus levocetirizine in chronic idiopathic urticaria: A comparative study of efficacy and safety.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is challenging because of its unpredictable course and negative influence on the quality of life. New treatments are being developed, but antihistaminics remain the cornerstone of the therapeutic approach. Newer generation antihistaminics such as loratadine and levocetirizine have already proved to be safe and efficacious for CIU.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To choose the better drug between loratadine and levocetirizine for CIU, by comparing their efficacy and safety.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized, open, outdoor-based clinical study was conducted on 60 patients of CIU, to compare the two drugs. After initial clinical assessment and baseline investigations, loratadine was prescribed to 30 patients and levocetirizine to another 30 patients for four weeks. At follow-up, the patients were re-evaluated and then compared using different statistical tools.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The comparative study showed that the changes in differential eosinophil count (P = 0.006) and absolute eosinophil count (P = 0.003) in the levocetirizine group was statistically significant. The results of the Total Symptom Score showed better symptomatic improvement of CIU with levocetirizine as compared to loratadine. The overall incidence of adverse drug reactions was also found to be less in the levocetirizine group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An analysis of the results of all the parameters of safety and efficacy proves the superiority of levocetirizine over loratadine for CIU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Prathima Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagunur Road, Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anuradha
authors.forename: Rituparna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maiti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jyothirmai
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mujeebuddin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anuradha