title: Rupatadine improves nasal symptoms, quality of life (ESPRINT-15) and severity in a subanalysis of a cohort of Spanish allergic rhinitis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to current guidelines, new second-generation oral Hi-antihistamines, as well as intranasal corticosteroids (ICSs), are recommended for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) in adults and children.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in AR severity, in addition to nasal symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), after 4 weeks of treatment with rupatadine in a cohort of AR patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A subanalysis of a longitudinal, observational, prospective, multicenter Spanish study was carried out in spring-summer 2007. Enrolled patients had a clinical diagnosis of AR of at least 2 years' evolution, a total nasal symptom score (TNSS) of at least 5, and had not received antihistamines in the previous week or ICSs in the previous 2 weeks. HRQoL (ESPRINT-15 questionnaire), disease severity (using both the original and modified Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma [ARIA] classifications), and nasal symptoms (TNSS) were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks of rupatadine treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from a cohort of 360 patients treated with rupatadine were analyzed (57.2% women, 42.5% with intermittent AR, 36.4% with asthma, and 61.7% with conjunctivitis). After 4 weeks of treatment, the patients showed a significantly lower mean (SD) TNSS (8.2 [1.9] vs 3.1 [2.1], P < .001), a significant improvement in HRQoL (3.0 [1.2] vs 1.0 [0.9], P < .001) and significantly reduced AR severity (P < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to an improvement in nasal symptoms and HRQoL, rupatadine reduced AR severity after 4 weeks of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Allergy Unit, Pneumology and Allergy Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain. valero@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giralt
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bartra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: del Cuvillo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mullol
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003533:Cyproheptadine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; C103639:rupatadine; D003533:Cyproheptadine