The clinical effectiveness of roxithromycin (RXM), a new semisynthetic macrolide, in the treatment of allergic rhinitis was evaluated. Thirty-one patients who were treated in our outpatient clinic for Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis were selected for this clinical trial. They were treated with 150 mg/day of RXM in addition to the same medication they had received in the 1992 pollen season. RXM was administered from the 1993 pre-season until the end of May, 1993. The clinical efficacy of RXM was evaluated by a comparison of the nasal symptoms in 1992 season with those seen in 1993.
1. The respective improvement rates for sneezing attacks, nasal hypersecretion, and nasal congestion were 53.3%, 50%, and 50%.
2. Improvement and slight improvement rates according to Okuda' a criteria for general improvement were 45.2% and 58.1%, respectively.
3. Improvement and slight improvement rates judged from questionnaires about general improvement were 45.2% and 58.1%, respectively.
4. RXM administration superimposed on specific immunotherapy contributed significantly to clinical relief of nasal symptoms during the pollen season (improvement: 58.8%; slight improvement: 76.5%).
5. RXM administration superimposed on nonspecific anti-allergic treatment had little effect on nasal symptoms during the season (improvement: 28.6%; slight improvement: 35.7%).
6. Side effects were noted in 2 patients; slight upper abdominal discomfort.
Our clinical study suggests that RXM is effective in the treatment of Japanese cedar pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. An additional suggestion is that RXM may enhance the mechanism by which specific immunotherapy alleviates nasal symptoms.