Combination of different antihistamines to treat urticaria and its effects on serum total immunoglobulin e level in patients

This study aimed to explore the clinical efficacy of the combination of different antihistamines in treating chronic urticaria and its influence on serum IgE levels. Sixty patients with chronic urticaria were randomly enrolled into an antihistamine single treatment group (ST) and a united treatment group (UT), with 30 cases in each group. Urticaria activity score (UAS), dermatology life quality index (DLQI), and symptom score reduction index (SSRI) were recorded at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment. Serum levels of leptin, interleukin-4 (IL-4), interferon-& gamma; (IFN-& gamma;), and human immunoglobulin E (IgE) were also measured. We observed that the clinical symptoms and signs of the ST group and the UT group improved after treatment, respectively. Compared with the patients receiving single-drug treatment, the number of wind masses, itching degree, UAS score, and DLQI score were decreased in the UT group at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment, while IL-4 and IgE levels were decreased and serum leptin and IFN-& gamma; levels were increased (p < 0.05). The total effective rates (TERs) of patients receiving the single treatment and united treatment were 66.7% and 76.7% at 2 weeks after treatment, and 70.0% and 83.3% at 4 weeks, respectively. The TERs in the UT group at 2 and 4 weeks after treatment were much higher, while those in the ST group were lower (p < 0.05). Both single and combined antihistamines were effective in treating chronic urticaria. However, the combination treatment had a higher clinical cure rate, effectively reduced the IgE level in patients, greatly alleviated clinical symptoms, and improved the quality of life (QOL).