A prospective, observational study of efficacy and safety of desloratadine and bilastine in patients of chronic spontaneous urticaria.

PURPOSE: Urticaria is a disease where there is development of short-lived itchy wheals (hives), angioedema, or both.[1] With a lifetime prevalence of up to 22%, it is a widespread skin disorder that affects the general population. Urticarial episodes lasting longer than 6 weeks are considered chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU).[23] Bilastine is a novel second-generation H1-antihistamine approved by the Drugs Controller General of India for the symptomatic treatment of CSU. Till date, there are very few studies in the Indian population comparing the efficacy and safety of bilastine with second-generation antihistaminic. Hence, the study was planned to assess and compare the efficacy and safety of desloratadine and bilastine in patients of CSU. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of desloratadine and bilastine in patients of CSU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: It was a randomized, open-label, parallel group, comparative study conducted in 60 patients of CSU attending the dermatology outpatient department of a tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 30 each. They received either desloratadine 5 mg or Bilastine 20 mg once daily for 6 weeks, and efficacy and safety were assessed at 2-, 4- and 6-week follow-up visit. RESULTS: Difference in MTSS was significant in bilastine as well as desloratadine, which showed that bilastine was equally efficacious as desloratadine. Adverse events were reported more in the desloratadine group. CONCLUSION: Bilastine is equally efficacious as desloratadine, and a favourable safety profile may make it a more tolerable H1-antihistaminic than desloratadine.