system
Medical AI Inquiry: You was designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.  Labels: BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVE, METHODS, RESULTS. Meshes: Adolescent, Adult, Blood Proteins, Cetirizine, Eosinophil Granule Proteins, Eosinophil Peroxidase, Eosinophils, Epithelial Cells, Female, Histamine, Histamine H1 Antagonists, Humans, Immunohistochemistry, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, Leukocyte Count, Loratadine, Male, Nasal Lavage Fluid, Nasal Mucosa, Neutrophils, Peroxidase, Peroxidases, Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal, Ribonucleases, Seasons.
user
Does loratadine treatment of rhinitis due to pollen allergy reduce epithelial ICAM-1 expression? Context: Loratadine and cetirizine are new generation antihistamines, which are clinically effective in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. The aim of the study was to evaluate antiallergic activity of loratadine compared with cetirizine, over a 2 week period under natural allergen exposure, in a double-blind parallel groups, randomized, controlled trial. Twenty patients, sensitized to grass and/or Parietaria pollen, were subdivided into two groups, one receiving loratadine the other cetirizine respectively. Both were dosed at 10 mg/day. Evaluated parameters were: clinical symptoms, nasal inflammatory cell (such as neutrophil, eosinophil and metachromatic cells) counts, ICAM-1 expression on nasal epithelial cells, and nasal mediators (e.g. histamine, ECP, EPO and MPO). Loratadine and cetirizine significantly improved symptoms (P < 0.002), significantly reduced eosinophil (P < 0.016) and metachromatic cell (P < 0.01) infiltration, levels of ECP (P < 0.002), EPO (P < 0.006) and histamine (P < 0.01) and ICAM-1 expression on nasal epithelial cells (P < 0.02). No difference was demonstrated between the two drugs.
assistant
The antiallergic activity of loratadine and cetirizine is documented by their actions on the inflammatory and clinical parameters, especially ICAM-1 modulation. Final Decision: yes