We investigated the effect of single dose cetrizine which is used in rinitis, on brochial hyperreactivity

due to adenosine monophosphat ( AMP ) in children with asthma and associated allergic rhinitis.

Twentysix children aged 7 to 16 years, with a history of both seasonal allergic rhinitis and asthma

were enrolled in this study which was conducted as a randomized, double-blind, placebocontrolled and cross-over fashion. The patients were seen 3 times in our clinic. At the first visit they

were given bronchial provocative test with AMP. The ones having a PC value of £ 200mg/ml to 20

AMP were called for the second vizit within 3 days. In this visit , he/she was given randomly either

cetrizine 10 mg tablet or placebo after a baseline spirometry. Bronchial challenge with AMP was

started at the 120. minute. The same procedure was repeated at vizit 3, at least 2 days after the vizit

2.

All of the eighteen patients who were able to complete the study protocol demonstrated

significantly better geometric mean of AMP PC values with cetrizine (55.5 ± 5.90 mg/ml) com- 20

pared to those with placebo (17.89 ± 6.38 mg/ml) (P<0.05). In other words, cetrizine improved

geometric mean of AMP PC values 1.58 times as compared to placebo and 1.65 times when 20

compared to basal levels.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates that cetrizine has an important anti-inflammatory effect by

improving AMP PC in children with both asthma and associated allergic rhinitis. Therefore 20

cetrizine may be considered not only for symptomatic treatment of allergic rhinitis but also as an

add-on treatment in children who have asthma allergic rhinitis. Further studies are needed to

determine the long-term effects of cetrizine on, allergic diseases as well as on other inflammatory

markers as exhaled nitric oxide, serum and sputum eosinophilia

Keywords: Cetirizine, bronchial reactivity, seasonal allergic rhinitis