Second generation antihistamines in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis due to parietaria and cypress pollen

Abstract

Second generation antihistamines have been employed in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis for many years. However, their effects on two distinctive Mediterranean allergic conditions, viz. Parietariapollinosis and cypress pollinosis, have been scarcely investigated, so far. A comparative efficacy and side effect trial of astemizole and terfenadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis due to either Parietariaor cypress pollen was carried out in 27 adult patients, according to a double-blind, double-dummy parallel-group design. Airborne pollen monitoring allowed comparison of symptom scores with pollen counts. Seven patients (26%) withdrew, due to poor symptom control. In contrast, in a subset of 15 patients who completed the trial, treatment led to a substantial and statistically significant decline in symptom severity in both the astemizole and the terfenadine study group. However, no statistically significant inter-group differences could be detected.