Levocabastine. Evaluation in the histamine and compound 48/80 models of ocular allergy in humans.

The efficacy of a new antihistamine, levocabastine, in alleviating the ocular allergic reactions induced by both histamine and 48/80 was evaluated in humans. Levocabastine (0.5%) was instilled in one eye of 30 volunteers, and vehicle in the contralateral eye. After 15 minutes, half of the subjects received histamine (25 mg/ml) and half, 48/80 (7.5 mg/ml). The signs and symptoms of allergy were graded clinically after 30 minutes. Compared with a buffer control, levocabastine significantly alleviated itching (P = 0.01), redness (P = 0.0156), and chemosis (P = 0.005) induced by histamine, and itching (P = 0.032) and redness (P = 0.029) induced by 48/80. The results from these pharmacologic models support the clinical use of levocabastine for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.