The comparison of cetirizine, levocetirizine and placebo for the treatment of childhood perennial allergic rhinitis

Authors: Lee, Chih-Fang¹; Sun, Hai-Lun; Lu, Ko-Hsiu²; Ku, Min-Sho¹; Lue, Ko-Huang

Source: Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 20, Number 5, August 2009 , pp. 493-499(7)

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Abstract:

Lee C-F, Sun H-L, Lu K-H, Ku M-S, Lue K-H. The comparison of cetirizine, levocetirizine and placebo for the treatment of childhood perennial allergic rhinitis.

Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2009: 20: 493-499.

Cetirizine (Zyrtec) is a potent and long-acting second-generation histamine H1- receptor antagonist for the treatment of allergic disease, such as allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria, in adult and child. It is a racemic mixture of levocetirizine (Xyzal) and dextrocetirizine. The purpose of this present study was to compare the efficacy of cetirizine, levocetirizine and placebo for the treatment of pediatric perennial allergic rhinitis. 74 perennial allergic rhinitis patients, aged 6 to 12 years old, assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups for 12 weeks randomly. The effects of the three agents were compared with the Pediatric Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) and Total Symptom Score (TSS) by diary. Nasal peak expiratory flow rate (nPEFR) and laboratory examinations including serum immunoglobulin E level, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), blood eosinophil counts and eosinophil percentage in a nasal smear were evaluated among the three groups. The results revealed that both cetirizine and levocetirizine improved TSS in comparison with the placebo group, and ceterizine appeared to be more efficacious than levocetirizine at week 8 and week 12. The PRQLQ score showed significant decreased both in cetirizine and levocetirizine group, but there was no statistic significant difference between both groups. The eosinophil proportion in a nasal smear significantly decreased among the cetirizine in comparison with the placebo group but there was no statistic significant in levocetirizine groups. Both cetirizine and levocetirizine showed significant improvement in nPEFR in comparison with the placebo group, and ceterizine appeared to be more efficacious than levocetirizine. The 12-week treatment program showed that cetirizine was more effectious than levocetirizine.

Keywords: allergic rhinitis; cetirizine; levocetirizine; histamine H1-receptor antagonist

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-3038.2008.00816.x

Affiliations: 1: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan 2: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan

Publication date: 2009-08-01

The comparison of cetirizine, levocetirizine and placebo for the treatment of childhood perennial allergic rhinitis

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