title: Comparison of the efficacy of fexofenadine 120 and 240 mg/day on chronic idiopathic urticaria and histamine-induced skin responses in Japanese populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  H1-antihistamines are the first-line treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU), but CIU is occasionally refractory to the conventional treatment doses. Guidelines in Europe recommend increasing doses as second-line therapy; however, more supportive evidences for these guidelines are required to justify this management strategy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, the authors evaluated the effect of conventional and double doses of fexofenadine HCl on CIU and on histamine-induced skin responses by iontophoresis using visual and laser Doppler imaging scales in healthy donors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cutaneous manifestations in CIU and histamine-induced flare and itch in healthy donors were attenuated more extensively by a double dose of fexofenadine HCl compared with a conventional dose.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above findings support the management strategy that increasing the dose of non-sedative antihistamines is the second-line treatment choice for refractory CIU even in Japanese populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine , Kyoto , Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanizaki
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakahigashi
authors.forename: Yoshiki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyachi
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kabashima
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006632:Histamine; D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016593:Terfenadine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D014581:Urticaria / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D039563:Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating; D016593:Terfenadine; D006632:Histamine; C093230:fexofenadine