Comparative efficacy of steroid nasal spray versus antihistamine nasal spray in allergic rhinitis.

This prospective randomized case controlled study was conducted to determine the efficacy of antihistamine (azelastine) nasal spray and compare it to steroid (beclomethasone) nasal spray on the symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Seventy five symptomatic patients of allergic rhinitis were included in this study. Diagnosis was made on the basis of history and physical examination. The patients were divided into three groups randomly. Group A was treated with Azelastine nasal spray, Group B was treated with Beclomethasone nasal spray and Group C was control group and only treated with steam inhalation. Efficacy of the treatment was assessed in the terms of Total Rhinitis Symptom Complex (TSC) scores and individual symptom score which was calculated on the basis of Okuda's grading system. Base line total symptom complex (TSC) scores were reduced in group A and group B by 84.0% after 4 week treatment whereas in group C it was reduced by only 38.0%. Decrease in mean score for sneezing was 95.0% in group A and group B whereas it was only 28.3% in group C. Similarly decrease in mean score for rhinorrhoea in azelastine group was 94.4% and in beclomethasone group was 95.3% in comparison to steam inhalation group where it was 25.0%. Only the beclomethasone reduced nasal stuffiness score significantly by 95.0%. No significant adverse effects of the drugs were observed. The present study establishes the relative efficacy and tolerability ofazelastine nasal spray as compared to beclomethasone nasal spray in symptomatic patients of allergic rhinitis.

Rinite alérgica: diagnóstico e tratamento / Alergic rhinitis: diagnosis and treatment

A rinite alérgica é uma doença crônica cujos sintomas variam quanto à freqüêncai e à severidade. Está presente em crianças e adultos, geralmente diminuindo a qualidade de vida. O diagnóstico depende de uma história clínica minuciosa, apoiada no exame físico e nos exames complementares. O tratamento é complexo, pois inclui medidas educativas, controle do ambiente, medicamentos diversos e, em alguns casos, imunoterapia específica e cirurgia. Esta revisão pretende abordar de forma prática como diagnosticar, classificar e tratar a rinite alérgica.

The efficacy and safety of 30 mg fexofenadine HCl bid in pediatric patients with allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common chronic disorders in children. It is also one of the most common causes of absence from school. This study reports on the efficacy and safety of a twice-daily oral dose of fexofenadine HCl 30 mg in Asian children aged 6-11 years diagnosed with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis. A total of 100 children with a history of allergic rhinitis for more than one year and a positive prick skin test response to at least one of the common aeroallergens in Thailand were enrolled in this multi-center, open-label, non comparative study. The severity of individual symptoms such as sneezing, rhinitis, etc. and adverse events were recorded in diary cards by the patients in form of scores as well as by the investigator at each visit. The total symptom score (TSS) with or without blocked nose at baseline, week 1 and week 2 was recorded. The TSS was defined as the sum of the individual symptom scores except for the nasal blockage score, as nasal blockage was not expected to respond to antihistamine treatment. Only patients with a total symptom score > or = 6 were included in the study. There was a statistically significant improvement at p < 0.01 for the TSS with or without blocked nose and for each symptom score such as blocked nose, sneezing, rhinorrhea, itchy nose/palate and/or throat, and itchy/watery/red eyes from baseline to week 1 and week 2. Additionally, there was a statistically significant improvement between week 1 and week 2 for itchy nose/palate and/or throat and itchy/watery/red eyes (p < 0.05). The Kappa measure of agreement was statistically significant at p < 0.001 between investigator's and patient's/parent's assessment, indicating the same degree of satisfaction with the overall effectiveness of the treatment. Fexofenadine 30 mg bid is effective in reducing the total symptom score of allergic rhinitis including blocked nose and is generally well tolerated. It is not cardiotoxic and is safe for pediatric patients as young as 6 years of age.

Niveles de IgE Sérica total y factores asociados al desarrollo de atopía en estudiantes de medicina / evels of IgE total Sérica and factors associated to the atopía development in medicine students

Las enfermedades alérgicas son las menos estudiadas en nuestro medio, no se tienen estudios sobre los niveles de la IgE sérica total, ni su relación con los factores que pueden predisponer al desarrollo de Atopia. Este trabajo pretende establecer el diagnóstico de la Atopía en individuos predispuestos dentro de una población estudiantil de 4° año de la carrera de Medicina de la UMSA, comprendidos entre 20 y 30 años de edad de ambos sexos, durante la gestión 2001. El cálculo de tamaño muestral se realizó por EPINFO 6.0 para un estudio de corte transversal con casos y controles. De una población de 3.000 alumnos, 114 fueron seleccionados mediante un cuestionario dirigido evaluando antecedentes elérgios personales, alimenticios, ambientales y familiares, de los cuales 57 sujetos presentaron alguno de los factores asociados (casos) y 57 sujetos no presentaron ningún factor (controles), excluyendo a embarazadas y sujetos con antecedentes de zonas endémicas parasitariasd. Se aplicó una prueba de ELISA para determinar los niveles de IgE sérica total, obsercándose que el grupo control presentó todos los niveles de IgE sérica total menores a 100 UI/ml; el grupo atópico, 38 sujetos presentaron valores menores de 100 UI/ml y 19 mayores a 100 UI/ml. Se observó también que los factores asociados alimenticios, ambientales y familiares inciden en el desarrollo de la Atopia, determinándose que cuanto más asociados existen mayor es la manifestación.

Síndrome anticolinérgico central por dosis terapéuticas de ciproheptadina: a propósito de un caso / Central anticholinergic syndrome secondary to therapeutic dosage of ciproheptadine. a case reports

Se presenta el caso de un niño de 10 años de edad, que sufrió el síndrome anticolinérgico central por la ingestión de dosis terapéuticas de ciproheptadina. Se aprovecha el tema para realizar una actualización de este síndrome.

Nasal septal perforation in a patient with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and rhinitis on long term corticosteroids.

A 22-year-old male, referred to us as a case of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis was diagnosed as allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) after serological and computed tomography confirmation. He was initiated on oral as well as inhaled corticosteroids along with nasal corticosteroid spray for his nasal complaints. One year subsequently, he developed a nasal septal perforation. Biopsy taken from the site did not reveal any granulomatous or atrophic changes and cultures of the biopsy did not yield any organism. The septal defect, repaired surgically by Hazeltine's method healed completely within 6 weeks. There have been anecdotal reports of septal perforation in patients with rhinitis on intranasal corticosteroids but hitherto not in patients with ABPA. A periodic examination of the nasal septum should be undertaken in patients with ABPA and rhinitis on long term inhaled oral and intranasal corticosteroids along with oral corticosteroids.

Comparaçäo do uso tópico de cetotifeno com a olopatadina no tratamento de conjuntivites alérgicas / Comparison between topical use of ketotifen and olopatadine in the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis

Objetivo: Avaliar e comparar a eficácia e tolerância do uso tópico do fumarato de cetotifeno a 0,05 por cento e cloridrato de olopatadina a 0,1 por cento no tratamento de pacientes com conjuntivite alérgica. Método: Foi realizado estudo clínico mascarado, randomizado comparando a eficácia, segurança e os efeitos colaterais com o uso da soluçäo oftálmica de fumarato de cetotifeno a 0,05 por cento e cloridrato de olopatadina a 0,1 por cento no alívio dos sintomas e sinais em pacientes com conjuntivite alérgica. Trinta e quatro pacientes obedecendo aos critérios de inclusäo do protocolo receberam um frasco com a droga mascarada e instilaram uma gota duas vezes por dia em cada olho durante 30 dias. Os sintomas e sinais dos pacientes foram avaliados em uma visita pré-tratamento e cinco com tratamento (1º dia, 2º dia, 7º dia, 14º dia e 30º dia). Resultados: A gravidade da conjuntivite alérgica foi semelhante nos dois grupos do estudo. Tanto cetotifeno como a olopatadina foram equivalentes e eficazes na diminuiçäo dos sintomas de prurido, ardor e lacrimejamento. Quanto aos sinais, a hiperemia em conjuntiva bulbar foi atenuada nos dois grupos. Na avaliaçäo das reaçöes adversas observou-se ardor após a administraçäo de ambos colírios e a ocorrência de prurido no grupo do cetotifeno. Näo foi observada nenhuma reaçäo de hipersensibilidade das drogas estudadas. Conclusöes: Este estudo evidencia que a soluçäo oftálmica de fumarato de cetotifeno a 0,05 por cento e o cloridrato de olopatadina a 0,1 por cento quando instilados duas vezes ao dia durante 30 dias, säo eficazes e seguros no alívio dos principais sintomas das conjuntivites alérgicas.

A non-comparative trial of the efficacy and safety of fexofenadine for treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis.

An open-label, non-comparative study was performed in three Otolaryngology centers in Bangkok, Thailand, to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of fexofenadine in Thai patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Altogether 101 perennial allergic rhinitis patients were included, 33 males and 68 females. Mean age was 33 years, average duration of symptoms was 6 years. All patients received fexofenadine hydrochloride 120 mg once daily (OD) in the morning for 2 weeks. Patients recorded their allergy symptoms daily using a 5 point rating scales in the diary card. At the end of 2 weeks, patients and investigators assessed the overall efficacy of treatment. Adverse events and onset of symptom relief were also recorded by every patient. Blood test and ECG were performed before and after treatment in one center (Siriraj Hospital). Total symptom scores and nasal scores decreased significantly from a baseline at 1 week and 2 weeks after treatment (p < 0.05). The mean onset of symptom relief was 2 hours and 12 minutes. The global assessment of the treatment by patients and investigators showed significant concordance. There was no significant change in either the vital signs, laboratory tests or ECG. The incidence of treatment related adverse events was 8% but all were mild and easily tolerated. Drowsiness was reported from only one patient. This study suggests that fexofenadine 120 mg once daily was an effective, safe and well tolerated treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis in Thai patients.

Estudo clínico comparativo entre cetirizina e placebo no tratamento de pacientes com rinite alérgica perene / Comparative clinical study between cetirizine and placebo in the treatment of patients with perennial allergic rhinitis

O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a tolerabilidade, a eficácia clínica e a segurança do uso da cetirizina (CTZ) no tratamento da rinite alérgica perene. O estudo foi comparativo contra placebo (PLB), duplo-cego, randomizado, cruzado. Os pacientes receberam um período de 15 dias com CTZ (10 mg em dose única di ria), seguido de outro período de 15 dias com PLB, ou vice-versa de acordo com lista de aleatorizaçäo. Setenta e dois pacientes foram admitidos e 52 deles completaram os dois períodos de tratamento previstos. A CTZ mostrou superioridade nos seguintes sintomas de rinite alérgica: coriza, obstruçäo nasal, crises de espirro, prurido nasal e conjuntivite. O sintoma tosse näo foi modificado por qualquer dos tratamentos. Os sinais físicos de rinite alérgica, como coloraçäo da mucosa, hipertrofia de cornetos, secreçäo nasal e inflamaçäo faríngea, mantiveram-se inalterados com os dois tratamentos. O mesmo ocorreu com os sinais vitais: pressäo arterial, frequência cardíaca, frequência respiratória e peso. Durante o período de tratamento com a CTZ foram observados eventos adversos em sete pacientes (12,3 por cento) e no período PLB foram observados eventos adversos em oito pacientes (14 por cento). Os eventos adversos mais frequentes no período de tratamento com CTZ foram sonolência e aumento subjetivo de peso (nÝo confirmado ao exame físico); no período PLB foram tontura, aumento de apetite e cefaléia. Durante o período de tratamento com a CTZ nove pacientes interromperam o tratamento, sendo oito pacientes por abandono ou falta de colaboraçäo do paciente e um por evento adverso (urticária ao frio näo controlada). Durante o período PLB 11 pacientes interromperam o tratamento, sendo dez pacientes por abandono ou falta de colaboraçäo do paciente e um por evento adverso (tontura e calafrios). Concluímos que a CTZ se mostrou clinicamente superior ao PLB em efic cia, proporcionando alívio dos sintomas da rinite alérgica perene e sintomas conjuntivais. A incidência de eventos adversos com CTZ nÝo diferiu da observada com PLB. A cetirizina é um anti-histamínico eficaz e bem tolerado, com posologia cômoda em relaçäo aos anti-histamínicos clássicos, podendo ser utilizada para tratamento da rinite alérgica.

Comparaçäo da azelastina spray nasal e terfenadina no tratamento da rinite alérgica perene / Comparison of azelastine nasal spray and terfenadine in the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis

Um total de 54 pacientes com rinite alérgica perene foram tratados com ou azelastina spray nasal 0,14 mg/narina duas vezes ao dia (0,56 mg/dia) ou terfenadrina 60 mg uma vez ao dia. O tratamento teve a duraçäo de duas semanas. Os sintomas da rinite foram avaliados de acordo com uma escala de 4 pontos (0=ausente, 3=grave). O escore total de sintomas de rinite foi derivado da soma dos escores de sintomas individuais. Os sintomas foram avaliados na vista pré-tratamento e após as semanas 1 e 2. Comparado à vista pré-tratamento o escore total de sintomas de rinite, para ambos os grupos, azelastina e terfenadina, foi menor em cada avaliaçäo durante o tratamento, näo havendo diferenças significantes entre os grupos. Ao fim do estudo o investigador classificou a eficácia como sendo "boa" ou "excelente" em 64,3 por cento dos pacientes do grupo azelastina e 73,1 por cento do grupo terfenadina. Ambos os tratamentos foram bem tolerados e nenhum efeito adverso grave foi relatado. Concluindo, azelastina intranasal mostrou ser täo eficaz como a terfenadina oral no alívio dos sintomas da rinite alérgica perene.