Effect of an antihistamine/decongestant on nasal and eustachian tube function following intranasal pollen challenge.

Ten adult subjects with documented ragweed allergic rhinitis underwent progressive intranasal allergen challenge following pretreatment with either an antihistamine/decongestant or placebo in a double-blind crossover fashion. Objective measurements of nasal and Eustachian tube (ET) function were made following each challenge dose using posterior rhinomanometry and sonotubometry. The percent decrease in nasal airway function, expressed as a change in conductance, was significantly less in the drug pretreatment tests when compared with placebo pretreatment. Eustachian tube function was also significantly improved by antihistamine/decongestant pretreatment as 13 of the 20 ET were obstructed at a higher antigen dose following drug pretreatment when compared with placebo. These results demonstrate a role for antihistamine/decongestant preparations in the treatment of allergic rhinitis as well as for potential allergen-induced ET dysfunction.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes