P. Clement et al., DOSE-RANGING, PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY OF CETIRIZINE NASAL SPRAY IN ADULTS WITH PERENNIAL ALLERGIC RHINITIS, Allergy, 49(8), 1994, pp. 668-672
A total of 360 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis were randomiz
ed in a placebo-controlled, dose-finding study comparing three concent
rations (0.06%, 0.125%, and 0.25%) of a cetirizine nasal spray, admini
stered three times a day for 2 weeks. The primary criterion of efficac
y was the percentage of days with no or only mild symptoms of rhinitis
(PDMaxl), as evaluated by the patients. The median PDMaxl were 16.7%,
30.8%, 42.9%, and 26.7% for the placebo, 0.06%, 0.125%, and 0.25% gro
ups, respectively. Although the global comparison among the four group
s only approached statistical significance (P = 0.076), the difference
(26.2%) between the placebo and 0.125% groups was clinically and stat
istically significant (P = 0.011). For the global evaluation by the in
vestigator, the best results were seen in the 0.125% group (P = 0.03).
The occurrence of adverse events did not differ among the four treatm
ent groups and consisted mainly of nasal events, occurring in 22.5%, 1
7.1%, 12.9%, and 24.3% of the patients for the placebo, 0.06%, 0.125%,
and 0.25% groups, respectively (P = 0.184). These results indicate th
at the 0.125% concentration is significantly better than placebo and o
ffers the best therapeutic ratio.