Abstract
Clinical effectiveness and improvement in quality of life (QOL) were studied in 88 patients with chronic urticaria treated with an antiallergic drug, olopatadine hydrochloride. They were aged 15 years or more and treated at medical institutions in the neighborhood of Fukuoka City from July 2003 to November 2004. The severity of itching and skin symptoms were significantly reduced from day 3 after starting the medication. The treatment was effective in 80% for itching and in 86% for skin symptoms when evaluated after 2 weeks. Thereafter, maintenance treatment was started with half the dose,and it was effective in 87% for itching and in 91% for skin symptoms when evaluated after 2 weeks. The symptoms were significantly alleviated also at the maintenance dose. The questionnaire to patients on stress in daily life before and after treatment revealed the improvement of QOL with time after starting the medication. Olopatadine hydrochloride was effective to improve QOL in patients with chronic urticaria.
