title: [Evaluation of efficacy and safety of loratadine in the treatment of childhood asthma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of loratadine, a new generation of antihistaminics, in the treatment of childhood asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The papers related to loratadine treatment for childhood asthma were searched in the database of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrance, CNKI and CBMdisc (January 1990 to December 2010) electronically and manually. According to the Cochrane reviewer's handbook, the quality of the enrolled papers was assessed and a systematic review was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 179 papers were obtained. Eleven randomized controlled trials met the criteria and were included in this study. The 11 trials included 317 children with asthma: 159 cases in the loratadine treatment group and 158 cases in the control group. All included studies belonged to the B class according to the quality evaluation criteria. Meta analysis showed that the clinical symptoms were improved more, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) 4 and 8 weeks posttreatment and the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) 8 weeks posttreatment were higher in the loratadine treatment group than in the control group. The treatment-related adverse effects, fatigue, tachycardia and palpitation, occurred less in the loratadine treatment group compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loratadine is safe and effective for the treatment of childhood asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, First Affiliated Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China.
authors.forename: Gulibaha
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maimaiti
authors.forename: Abulaiti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abduhaer
authors.forename: Pei-Ru
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D017336:Loratadine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010366:Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D017336:Loratadine