Skin test inhibition by astemizole

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Allergy and Immunology

Background:

• Antihistamines are crucial for managing allergic conditions like hay fever.
• Evaluating the efficacy and duration of antihistamine action requires robust methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and validate the Skin Test Inhibition Index (STII) assay.
• To assess the therapeutic effect and duration of action of astemizole in hay fever patients.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Skin Test Inhibition Index (STII) assay.
• Administration of astemizole (10 mg/d) to 26 hay fever subjects.
• Skin titration tests performed pre- and post-treatment, with STII measurements at various time points.

Main Results:

• Astemizole demonstrated significant inhibition of skin test reactions (STII = 91) after 7 days.
• Sustained antihistamine effect observed up to 21 days post-treatment, with STII values ranging from 12 to 108.
• The STII assay effectively quantified the therapeutic impact of astemizole.

Conclusions:

• Astemizole exhibits significant antihistamine properties.
• Astemizole demonstrates a long-acting therapeutic effect in managing hay fever symptoms.
• The STII assay is a valuable tool for evaluating antihistamine efficacy and duration.