EFFECTS OF THE ANTIALLERGIC DRUG AZELASTINE HYDROCHLORIDE ON PROLIFERATIVE RESPONSES OF LYMPHOCYTES TO FOOD ANTIGENS IN PATIENTS WITH FOOD-SENSITIVE ATOPIC-DERMATITIS

We Previously reported that the proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to ovalbumin (OA) or bovine serum albu min (BSA) in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) who are sensitive to hen's egg or cow's milk were significantly higher than those of healt hy children and hen's egg- or cow's milk-sensitive children with immed iate symptoms. Azelastine hydrochloride is an antiallergic drug used i n the treatment of rhinitis and asthma. In this study, we have shown t hat the proliferative responses of PBMCs to OA are concentration-depen dently inhibited by azelastine in patients with AD. Moreover, the inhi bition resulted from the effects of azelastine on T-cells.