title: Anti-inflammatory activity and clinical efficacy of a 3-month levocetirizine therapy in mite-allergic children.
abstract: The non-sedating third generation antihistamine levocetirizine has ample evidence of efficacy in allergic rhinitis. In vitro studies suggested that levocetirizine has anti-inflammatory properties not simply related to the antihistamine activity but also to regulation of eosinophils. We performed a double-blind placebo-controlled study in 40 children allergic to house dust mites with persistent rhinitis with the primary aim to evaluate the anti-inflammatory efficacy of levocetirizine measuring eosinophil-related parameters and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO). After one month of treatment, a significant improvement in nasal symptom-medication scores was observed in actively but not in placebo treated patients. After 3 months of treatment, a significant effect was detected on eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in nasal mucosa and on nasal eNO in active treated patients. This suggests that during treatment of mite-allergic children with levocetirizine the early improvement in nasal symptoms is due to the antihistamine activity, while more time is needed to achieve an effect on allergic inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Specialty and Public Health, Institute of Pediatrics, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marcucci
authors.forename: Laura Giovanna
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Sensi
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abate
authors.forename: Giusiana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Allocca
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ugolini
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Cara
authors.forename: Cristoforo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Incorvaia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016084:Bronchoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D017332:Cetirizine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C472067:levocetirizine; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; C479220:RNASE3 protein, human; D017332:Cetirizine