EFFECT OF TERFENADINE ON SUBSTANCE-P AND VASOACTIVE INTESTINAL POLYPEPTIDE CONCENTRATIONS IN NASAL SECRETIONS FROM PATIENTS WITH NASAL ALLERGY

Before terfenadine treatment, the mean substance P and vasoactive inte stinal polypeptide (VIP) concentrations in nasal secretions from nasal allergy patients tended to be higher than the values of healthy subje cts. During terfenadine treatment, the mean substance P concentrations in nasal secretions from patients allergic to house dust or pollen we re significantly decreased to 62 and 39% of the initial values, respec tively. The mean VIP concentrations in nasal secretions from the house dust allergy patients and the pollen allergy patients were significan tly decreased to 52 and 18% of the initial values, respectively. Plasm a substance P and VIP concentrations were not affected by nasal allerg ic symptom and terfenadine treatment.