[The place of new antihistamines in allergy management. Apropos of desloratadine].

Desloratadine, the active metabolite of loratadine, is a new antihistamine. Because of its anti allergy properties, desloratidine has an affinity for histamine receptors 25 to 100 times greater to those of the usual antihistamines, coupled with a capacity to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators. When evaluated in healthy volunteers, the half life of desloratadine has been estimated at 27 hours, which is comparable with a night time length of action. Many clinical studies made with patients suffering with allergic rhinitis or chronic idiopathic urticaria have shown a rapid symptom reduction, lasting 24 hours after first taking. This action was correlated with an improvement in socio-professional activity, sleep and quality of life in general. In patients suffering from allergic rhinitis, rhinomanometry showed a significant improvement in nasal congestion by desloratadine. The clinical advantages of desloratadine on antihistamines taken previously were measured in a study made on almost 48,000 patients, of whom 91% found its efficacity satisfactory. By its powerful action, coupled with an excellent tolerance profile, desloratadine represents a real therapeutic advance for allergic patients.