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Changes in skin‐test reactivity do not correlate with clinical efficacy of H 1 ‐blockers in seasonal allergic rhinitis
Author(s) -
Bousquet J.,
Czarlewski W.,
Cougnard J.,
Danzig M.,
Micher F.B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb03933.x
Subject(s) - astemizole , loratadine , histamine , medicine , allergen , placebo , allergy , terfenadine , antihistamine , histamine h1 receptor , anesthesia , immunology , antagonist , pathology , alternative medicine , receptor
New‐generation H‐blockers may possess antiallergic properties, and their effect may differ, depending on the target organ. A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group study was carried out during the pollen season to compare the clinical effect on nasal and conjunctival symptoms of astemizole (10 mg o.d.) and loratadine (10 mg o.d.) with their effect on skin‐test reactivity to allergen and histamine. Thirty‐eight patients (12–56 years of age) were studied. Nasal and ocular symptoms were recorded daily from days 4 to 7. Skin prick tests with serial concentrations of allergens and one concentration of histamine were carried out before and at the end of the 7‐day treatment period. Parallel‐line bioassay, analysis of variance, and covariance were used to analyze skin test data. Loratadine and astemizole significantly decreased symptoms from baseline (P<0.004 and P<0.006), Skin‐test reactivity to allergen and histamine was more profoundly decreased by astemizole than loratadine. The histamine covariant was more important in the allergen effect of astemizole than in that of loratadine. Two Hblockers having the same clinical effect on nasal and ocular symptoms during the pollen season have totally different effects on skin‐test reactivity. Skin‐test reactivity to allergen or histamine is not predictive of the clinical efficacy of H 1 ‐blockers during seasonal allergic rhinitis.