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Cetirizine: more than an antihistamine?
J Bernheim1, C Arendt, C de Vos
1UCB Pharmaceutical Sector, R & D, Chemin du Foriest, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium.
Agents and Actions. Supplements
|January 1, 1991
Summary
Cetirizine is a highly specific and potent antihistamine, ideal for studying allergic reactions. It also uniquely inhibits eosinophil migration, a novel property beyond its H1 receptor antagonism.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Allergy and Immunology
Background:
- Cetirizine is a second-generation antihistamine, a metabolite of hydroxyzine.
- It is distinguished by its high specificity for the H1 receptor, potent activity, and lack of metabolism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the unique properties of cetirizine as an H1 antagonist.
- To explore cetirizine's additional effects on eosinophils in allergic reactions.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on cetirizine's pharmacological profile.
- Analysis of cetirizine's in vitro and in vivo effects on eosinophil migration.
Main Results:
- Cetirizine exhibits exquisite H1 receptor specificity and is a potent antihistamine in skin and lung tissues.
- Cetirizine effectively inhibits eosinophil migration in vitro and in vivo, a characteristic not typically seen with other antihistamines.
- This eosinophil inhibition is likely a novel property, independent of H1 antagonism.
Conclusions:
- Cetirizine's unique characteristics make it a preferred H1 antagonist for research on immediate allergic reactions.
- Cetirizine possesses a novel mechanism for inhibiting eosinophil infiltration, relevant to late-phase allergic responses.