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Levocetirizine in the treatment of allergic diseases
Francesca Scordamaglia1, Enrico Compalati, Ilaria Baiardini
1Genoa University, Department of Internal Medicine, Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, Genoa, Italy.
Background:
Levocetirizine, the R-enantiomer of cetirizine dihydrochloride, is a new molecule with a potent and selective antihistamine activity.
Objective:
To investigate the evidence that levocetirizine is an effective therapy for allergic disease.
Methods:
Evaluation of published articles in English, or having an English abstract.
Results:
Clinical trials indicate that levocetirizine is safe and effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic idiopathic urticaria. The compound shows a rapid onset of action, high bioavailability and affinity for the H1 receptor. Moreover, this molecule demonstrates many anti-inflammatory effects that enhance the clinical therapeutic benefit not only in short-term but also in long-term treatments, as reported in recent trials utilizing levocetirizine for several months.
Conclusion:
Levocetirizine confirms its safe effective activity for treatment of allergic disease in both adults and children.
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