Comparative therapeutic effect and safety of mizolastine and loratadine in chronic idiopathic urticaria. URTILOR study group.

Mizolastine, a new second-generation H1 receptor antagonist with additional anti-allergic properties, was compared with loratadine in 61 patients suffering from severe chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). In this double-blind study, patients were randomly allocated to receive either mizolastine 10 mg (n = 26) or loratadine 10 mg (n = 35) once-daily for 28 days. Both compounds were well tolerated, safe and efficacious.

Systemic allergic reactions to corticosteroids.

Allergic anaphylactic (type I) reactions to corticosteroid medications are uncommon; however, a number of well-documented cases have been reported. We present a review of the literature, and report on two patients who suffered anaphylaxis after injections of corticosteroids. The first patient, a registered nurse, was finally found to be sensitive to all corticosteroid preparations containing carboxymethylcellulose, as well as the pure carboxymethylcellulose.