Azelastine eye drops reduce conjunctival hyperresponsiveness to hyperosmolar glucose challenge in children with asymptomatic mite conjunctivitis

Mite allergy is characterized by a continuous allergen exposure. Persistent inflammation is therefore always detectable, and during symptomless period s as well. It has been reported that mite allergic patients also present a nonspecific hyperreactivity to different stimuli, including hyperosmolar so lution. Since azelastine was previously demonstrated to be able to reduce a llergic inflammation, the aim of the study was to investigate the effects o f the drug on nonspecific conjunctival hyperreactivity in mite-allergic pat ients. Twenty children with mite allergy were studied. A hyperosmolar conju nctival challenge was performed before and after azelastine eye drops or pl acebo treatment for a period of 2 weeks. It was found that patients treated with azelastine eye drops showed a significant reduction in nonspecific co njunctival hyperreactivity compared to the placebo group (p = 0.018). It wa s concluded that azelastine eye drops are able to reduce the nonspecific hy perreactivity present in subjects with mite allergy.