Desloratidine for the treatment of chronic urticaria.

Chronic urticaria is a common dermatologic condition that is idiopathic in most cases. Antihistamines are the mainstays of treatment for this condition. The newer, second and third generation antihistamines are the preferred agents because of their improved safety profile and comparable efficacy to the first generation antihistamines. Desloratadine is a new non-sedating H1-receptor agonist. Based on clinical studies, desloratadine is a valuable new addition to the available treatment options and should be considered as a first-line therapy for patients with chronic urticaria.