Cellular inflammatory responses and mediator release during early developing late-phase allergic cutaneous inflammatory responses: Effects of cetirizine

Background: Events in developing cutaneous late-phase allergic reactions can be characterized by a combination of skin chamber and biopsy approaches. In some previous studies, cetirizine reportedly inhibited mediator release and/or inflammatory cell responses in late-phase reactions. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effects of cetirizine on early late-phase reactions by using skin chamber and skin biopsy speciments. Methods: Skin chamber responses during a 6-hour challenge with pollen antigens were assessed in 15 sensitive subjects during randomized, crossover treatment with cetirizine (20 mg/day) or placebo for 7-day periods with measurements of humoral and cellular components. Biopsy specimens of the underlying dermis were obtained. Results: During cetirizine treatment, there was significant ( p Conclusion: A persistent pattern of inflammatory cell accumulation with release of granule proteins during early late-phase reactions was unaffected by cetirizine treatment.