The aim of the study was to assess the therapeutic efficacy of
loratadine on
pruritus in patients with
atopic dermatitis, considering the patients' sensation of itch. Sixteen patients, mean age 24.8 years, with moderate or severe
atopic dermatitis were included in a double-blind and placebo-controlled study with a six-period, multi-crossover design. The patients were given 10 mg
loratadine or placebo every day, alternating between
loratadine and placebo every 2 weeks. The degree of
pruritus during the day and during the night was recorded by the patients every morning and every evening, respectively, on a 10-cm visual analog scale. The study detected a significant effect of
loratadine, as compared with placebo, on
pruritus during the day,
pruritus during the night, and severity of
rash. At least nine of the 16 patients included were classified as responders and only one as a nonresponder to
loratadine treatment. It is concluded that
loratadine may be tried as an adjuvant
therapy in the management of severe and moderate
atopic dermatitis, in patients complaining of
pruritus.