Effects of cetirizine on substance P release in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis

What Was Tested

The paper reports a study of Substance P, published as a randomized controlled trial.

To evaluate the effect of cetirizine hydrochloride on substance P release in allergic rhinitis, the researchers performed a single-blind placebo-controlled study of 14 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis (7 treated with cetirizine and 7 with placebo).

Why It Was Studied

The levels of albumin, histamine, and substance P in nasal lavages before and after allergen challenge were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Who Took Part

The study group was 14 patients.

By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were adults, both men and women.

How the Study Was Run

The design is described as randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled.

The patients were allocated by chance, so the Substance P group and the comparison group should start out alike.

Only one side, usually the patients, was kept unaware of whether Substance P was given.

A placebo (an inactive look-alike) gave the Substance P group a baseline to be compared against.

What Was Measured

The levels of albumin, histamine, and substance P in nasal lavages before and after allergen challenge were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Topics PubMed links to this paper include Airway Resistance, Albumins, Anti-Allergic Agents, Cetirizine, Histamine, Histamine H1 Antagonists, Non-Sedating and Nasal Lavage Fluid.

What This Means in Plain Language

The paper is a randomized, single-blind and placebo-controlled study of Substance P in 14 patients.

With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.

The publication is from 2004 (The Annals of otology, rhinology, and laryngology), a journal based in United States.

More context: the Substance P compound page, all human trials.