ABSTRACT
Astemizole, a new long-acting antihistamine, (H1 receptor antagonist), 10 mg taken once daily was found to be an effective prophylactic treatment for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis in 75% (twelve from sixteen) of subjects in a double-blind placebo-controlled study. The success rate with placebo was less than 20% (three from sixteen). There were two treatment failures in highly atopic individuals taking the active drug. The classic side effects of antihistamines, most notably sedation, were minimal and reflected in the control group. Two subjects reported weight gain: one of these noted an increase in appetite during the 6-week trial period. Six of seven subjects who continued to take the drug for a longer period (up to 16 weeks) experienced marked weight gain: five of them reported an increase in appetite. Reactions to allergen skin tests were significantly reduced in patients taking astemizole.
Subject(s)
Benzimidazoles/therapeutic use , Histamine H1 Antagonists/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Astemizole , Benzimidazoles/adverse effects , Benzimidazoles/blood , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Azatadine maleate (Zadine), a new antihistamine, was evaluated for its efficacy in 20 patients with chronic allergic rhinitis. Eighty percent of patients had symptomatic relief with a twice daily dosage of 2 mg. Sedation was volunteered as a side effect by six of the patients and was admitted by two further patients after specific questioning. A choice reaction time test gave slowing of motor function in these sedated patients. Four of the previously sedated patients experienced good symptomatic control with minimal sedation when the azatadine dose was reduced to 1 mg twice daily; slowing of motor function was not observed at this, the normal recommended dose.
Subject(s)
Cyproheptadine/analogs & derivatives , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Clinical Trials as Topic , Cyproheptadine/adverse effects , Cyproheptadine/therapeutic use , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosis , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/diagnosisABSTRACT
Extracts of 11 common inhalant allergens, produced by three different commercial suppliers, were compared by the skin prick test (SPT) in 21 atopic subjects. Good correlation was found between the three brands for positive reactions to grass pollens and English plantain pollen. Eighteen subjects with clinical sensitivity to house dust had diagnostically positive reactions to two of the house dust mite extracts, the third preparation produced no reactions that would be considered as diagnostically significant by the usual criteria. The extracts of house dust mixtures possessed little biological activity and were considered unsatisfactory for accurate diagnostic purposes. One of the three extracts of dog hair and dander produced false positive results in 17 of 21 subjects. The variability of reactions to fungi and animal hair and dander is discussed.
Subject(s)
Allergens/standards , Hypersensitivity, Immediate , Skin Tests/methods , Adult , Animals , Cats , Dogs , Dust , False Positive Reactions , Fungi , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/chemically induced , Mites , Poaceae , PollenABSTRACT
An enzymatic-isotopic microassay that can measure picogram amounts of histamine in 20 microliter samples of plasma has been used to confirm diagnosis of allergic sensitivity to extracts of house dust mite, cat dander, grass, plantain, Cladosporium mould and bee sting venom by the skin test procedure. Multiple assays for allergic histamine release can be performed on minimal blood samples resulting in a qualitative and quantitative prediction of allergic sensitivity from an in vitro biochemical procedure.
Subject(s)
Histamine Release , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/diagnosis , Animals , Bee Venoms , Cats , Cladosporium , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/blood , Mites , Plants , Pollen , Skin TestsABSTRACT
1 The efficacy of the antihistamine azatadine maleate at maximum recommended dosage (4 mg/day) for 1 week was assessed relative to placebo in a double-blind crossover study of twenty patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. 2 Sixteen patients reported significant improvement in their clinical symptoms while taking the active drug. 3 The size of skin test weals for both histamine provocation and common inhalant allergens (prick test) diminished significantly after the azatadine treatment. There was no correlation between inhibition of skin reactions and symptom improvement. 4 Eight subjects reported sedative effects attributable to azatadine maleate. Their performance on a choice reaction to placebo occurred in the non-sedated group.
Subject(s)
Cyproheptadine/analogs & derivatives , Histamine Antagonists/therapeutic use , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Cyproheptadine/pharmacology , Cyproheptadine/therapeutic use , Female , Histamine Antagonists/adverse effects , Histamine Antagonists/pharmacology , Humans , Hypnotics and Sedatives/pharmacology , Male , Middle Aged , Reaction Time/drug effects , Skin TestsABSTRACT
As a preliminary to investigating the mechanism by which cows' milk might provoke rhinitis a double-blind study was set up to identify a group of milk sensitive patients. Twenty-three patients with histories suggestive of sensitivity to dairy products, and whose symptoms had previously improved with milk avoidance yet recurred following milk challenge, entered the trial. During a six-day period the patients were twice challenged on a double-blind basis with 100 ml cows' milk. Twenty-one patients completed the study. Eight patients reacted to neither challenge, seven patients reacted to only one challenge, and six responded to both challenges. Only two of these six reacted identically to both challenges, and were considered to be milk allergic. It was concluded that cows' milk allergy of the immediate hypersensitivity IgE mediated form is rare.
Subject(s)
Hypersensitivity, Immediate/diagnosis , Milk/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Animals , Cattle , Child , Child, Preschool , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Hypersensitivity, Immediate/complications , Male , Rhinitis/etiologyABSTRACT
A double-blind crossover study has compared intra-nasal sodium cromoglycate (SCG) with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP), and both drugs with placebo, in fifty-two chronic perennial rhinitis patients. BDP was significantly more effective in relieving symptoms than SCG (76.9% and 50% of the patients improved respectively, P < 0.01). Both drugs were more active than placebos but while BDP was very clearly more effective (P < 0.0005) SCG was only marginally better than its placebo (P < 0.05, Fisher; P = 0.068, chi 2). BDP was selected by 56% of the patients as the best agent for continuing therapy at the end of the trial. By contrast SCG was preferred by the same number of patients as chose the two placebos (11.5%).
Subject(s)
Beclomethasone/administration & dosage , Cromolyn Sodium/administration & dosage , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/drug therapy , Administration, Intranasal , Adolescent , Adult , Clinical Trials as Topic , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial/diagnosisABSTRACT
A survey of airborne pollen and spores is being undertaken in Auckland. The results for the 15-month period from November 1976 to February 1978 are presented. Even at the height of the flowering seasons meteorological factors greatly influence the concentration of pollen and spores in the atmosphere. Consideration of these factors is therefore essential when assessing the allergic patients' symptoms and treatment. A flowering calendar for Auckland of common anemophilous plants (many of which produce allergenic pollen) is presented.
