Levocetirizine is an effective treatment in patients suffering from chronic idiopathic urticaria: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel, multicenter study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is defined by the almost daily presence of urticaria for at least 6 weeks without an identifiable cause. Symptoms include short-lived wheals, itching, and erythema. CIU impedes significantly a patient's quality of life (QoL). Levocetirizine is an antihistamine from the latest generation approved for CIU.

AIM:

To investigate the efficacy of levocetirizine, 5 mg, and placebo for the symptoms and signs of CIU, as well as for the QoL and productivity.

METHODS:

The primary criteria of evaluation were the pruritus severity scores over 1 week of treatment and over 4 weeks. The QoL was assessed via the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

RESULTS:

Baseline pruritus severity scores were comparable in the two treatment groups (2.06+/-0.58). After 1 week, levocetirizine was superior to placebo and demonstrated a considerable efficacy (difference=0.78, P<0.001). This efficacy was maintained over the entire study period (4 weeks, P<0.001). The number and size of wheals were considerably reduced compared with placebo over 1 week and over the total treatment period (P <or= 0.001). This was paralleled by an improvement in the QoL (DLQI: 7.3 units in the levocetirizine group and 2.4 units in the placebo group) and a higher productivity at work in the levocetirizine group (3.0 workdays lost per patient per month in the placebo group, 0.3 in the levocetirizine group). No unexpected adverse events occurred.

CONCLUSIONS:

Levocetirizine, 5 mg once daily, is an effective treatment for CIU, characterized not only by a rapid and sustained response, but also by an important improvement in QoL.

• Authors: Alexander Kapp, Werner J Pichler
• Journal: International journal of dermatology (Int J Dermatol) Vol. 45 Issue 4 Pg. 469-74 (Apr 2006) ISSN: 0011-9059 [Print] England
• PMID: 16650180 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating
• Piperazines
• levocetirizine
• Cetirizine

Topics

• Adult
• Cetirizine (therapeutic use)
• Chronic Disease
• Double-Blind Method
• Efficiency
• Female
• Germany
• Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Male
• Piperazines (therapeutic use)
• Quality of Life
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sick Leave (statistics & numerical data)
• Switzerland
• Urticaria (drug therapy, psychology)