الفهرس 
Histology of Nasal MucosaOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 126 |  |  |
| | | from | 126 | | |
Abstract
Treatment of allergic rhinitis has several modalities including; allergen avoidance, immunotherapy, patient education and pharmacotherapy including antihistamines and corticosteroids. Topical antihistamine (levocabastine) is a new drug which has several advantages over the systemic antihistamines.
Topical glucocorticoids are widely perscribed for, and reduce the symptoms of perennial rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. In allergic rhinitis they have been shown to improve symptoms and to reduce the influx of inflammatory cells into the nasal mucosa and inflammatory cell recovery in nasal smears. They have also been shown to reduce the early, late and rechallenge responses to allergen challenge in allergic rhinitis. In addition to their anti-inflammatory effect, glucocorticoid may have a direct effect on the venous sinusoids of the nasal mucosa to reduce mediator induced vasodilatation (Studham et al., 1993).
In this study, number of patients with allergic rhinitis were carefully selected and divided into three groups. One group was given fluticasone propionate, the other was given levocabstine nasal spray and the third group was used as a control. Patients were evaluated by both subjective (symptom score) and objective (Histopathology) methods before, 4 and 8 weeks after treatment. The results were obtained and statistically analysed.
The results proved that topical steroids has a superior effect than levocabastine regarding nasal obstructions, but with minimal effect regarding rhinorhea. It also safe to be used during pregnancy, hypertension, diabetic patients and children because it has no systemic side effects and not increase the plasma cortisol level.
Levocabstine on the other hand has no or minimal effect on nasal obstruction and its main effect on rhinorhea, sneezing and itching only.
In conclusion :
I. Topical corticosteroid
1] Is superior than levocabstin in nasal obstruction.
2] Decrease vascular congestion of nasal mucosa, edema, eosinophilis, lymphocytes and mast cells.
3] Has no systemic absorption.
4] Is safe during pregnancy, hypertension, diabetes and childhood.
II. Topical antihistaminic
1] Has no or minimal effect on nasal obstruction.
2] Effective in rhinorhea, sneezing & itching.
3] Not affect edema, eosinophilis, lymphocytes, mast cells and vascular congestion.