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SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2007
September 30, 2007
Treatment with anti-leukotrienes vs antihistamines in allergic rhinitis
Summary
Background - Leukotriene antagonist (LA) agents have been marketed widely in the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR). How does such treatment compare with antihistamine (AH) therapy?
Findings - Ho and Tan of the Veteran's General Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan compared the effects of zafirlukast (an LA), cetirizine (an AH) alone in different dosages or in combination compared with placebo administration for 4 weeks in 120 adults with moderate to severe AR.
They found that total symptoms decreased more in the active treated than in placebo treated groups. However, those treated with higher LA doses (twice
daily) or low dose LA plus AH therapy did better than low dose LA or AH alone.
Reference
Am J Rhinol 2007;21:439-43
Editor's Comments
Previous studies have concluded that treatment of AR with montelukast (another LA) was no better than the comparison AH and maybe not as effective. Some, but not other, studies found that LA used along with an AH conferred additional benefit. My overall impression is that neither LA or AH treatment are as effective as treatment with adequate doses of intranasal corticosteroids.
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