מתוך medicontext.co.il
By David Douglas
WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) – Long-term treatment with cetirizine appears effective in reducing allergy-associated symptoms in mite-sensitive children, according to Italian researchers.
Dr. Giorgio Ciprandi of the University of Genoa, and colleagues note that mite allergy "is characterized by persistent chronic inflammation even during asymptomatic periods." Because of this, long-term treatment may be more effective than symptomatic treatment.
To investigate, the researchers conducted a double-blind study of two groups of 10 mite-sensitive children who were randomized to treatment with cetirizine 5 mg daily or to placebo.
The children were also allowed to take rescue medication, including additional cetirizine, for rhinitis or mild asthma, and intake of these and other drugs was recorded over the course of the 6-month study. The findings were published in the September issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
The team found that symptom scores were significantly lower in the cetirizine group. This was also true of consumption of cetirizine, beta2-agonists, corticosteroids and antibiotics.
Dr. Ciprandi told Reuters Health that the results "indicate that the global therapeutical strategy for allergic rhinitis should be reassessed and targeted to inflammatory phenomena, rather than to symptoms only. This could be achieved by using continuous long-term treatments instead of 'on-demand' treatment."
Cetirizine, he added "which reduces inflammation by affecting the recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells, seems to be suitable for the continuous treatment of allergy." Moreover, in comparison with symptomatic treatment, "the total cost of continuous treatment for 6 months was significantly lower."
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