INTRODUCTION: The authors appraised the clinical efficacy of desloratadine in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis.PATIENTS AND METHODS: An open, two-week trial was conducted on 428 patients between 3 June and 31 July 2002 in 11 centres. Nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching as well as ocular clinical signs were characterized using a symptom score. Desloratadine tablet was administered in 5 mg doses. After two weeks of treatment, the symptom score was re-evaluated. Potential adverse events that had occurred during the treatment period were recorded.RESULTS: Desloratadine significantly alleviated all four nasal symptoms and ocular effectively. In particular, treatment resulted from 76 percent to 12% percent decrease of overall symptom score. One of the participants discontinued treatment due to the occurrence of adverse effects.CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that desloratidine is a safe and effective systemic antihistamine--with complex antiallergic effect--for the therapy of seasonal allergic rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis. It can reduce nasal congestion with greater magnitude than other known antihistamines.
Adult Female