CONTROLLED EXPOSURE TO MITE ALLERGEN FOR A DOSE-FINDING OF DIMETHINDENE MALEATE (DMM)

The aim of the study was to develop a laboratory system to challenge m ite allergic patients with physiological concentrations of Der p I in order to evaluate the efficacy of antiallergic drugs in mite allergic patients. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was des igned with three consecutive sessions. Twelve patients with proven sen sitivity to dust mite were treated with a single dose of dimethindene maleate in a FOAD formulation (4 and 8 mg vs. placebo) 12 h before a l ong-term challenge with mite allergen Der p I in the Vienna challenge chamber. Challenge was performed with a constant concentration of 40 n g Der p I per cubic meter of air for 4 h. Nasal parameters were record ed at 15 min intervals during long-term challenge. In comparison to pl acebo, dimethindene leads to a statistically significant reduction (p< 0.05) of the nasal response at both concentrations tested. The house-d ust mite model in the Vienna challenge chamber thus proved to be a use ful tool for drug investigations in mite allergies