Loratadine, an antihistamine, blocks antigen-and ionophore-induced leukotriene release from human lung in vitro.

Some H1-antihistamines possess anti-allergic properties, and inhibit the immunological release of mediators including histamine and sulfiopeptide-leukotrienes (slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis) from lung. The effects of the antihistiamine loratadine, SCH29851, on the release of leukotrienes and histamine from human lung fragments were measured, using the calcium ionophore A23187 and an extract of antigen from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, house dust mite, (with passively sensitized lung) as releasing agents. Loratadine (1-20 microM) inhibited the release of leukotrienes in a concentration-dependent manner when release was induced by calcium ionophore from lung specimens from 8 subjects, and also when release was induced by antigen from lung specimens from 7 subjects. Histamine release was unaffected by these concentrations of loratadine in both types of experiment.