Desloratadine in the Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of desloratadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) in the clinical setting. Design and Setting: The postmarketing surveillance study was performed in Germany in 47 953 outpatients requiring treatment of SAR between February and October 2001. Results: The mean duration of desloratadine treatment was 38.4 days and compliance was rated as good/excellent in 98% of cases. Mean nasal, ocular, asthma, dermal and total symptom sum scores were reduced significantly during desloratadine treatment compared with baseline (p = 0.0001). Interference with daily activity and sleep disturbance decreased markedly during desloratadine therapy. Of patients with SAR and asthma symptoms at baseline, 50.7% also reduced their asthma medication during desloratadine treatment. The global efficacy of desloratadine was rated as good/excellent by 91.2% of patients and 92.6% of physicians. Global safety/tolerability was rated as good/excellent by 98.9% of physicians and 98.5% of patients and the adverse event rate was very low (0.44%). Onset of symptom relief following desloratadine was rated as faster than previous treatment by 64.1% of physicians and 65.7% of patients. Conclusions: This study supports the evidence from placebo-controlled trials that desloratadine is an effective and well tolerated treatment for SAR symptoms, including nasal congestion. Desloratadine provided significant relief of other associated problems, including related asthma and dermal symptoms.