Comparison of Rupatadine Monotherapy and Combined Levocetirizine with Ranitidine Dual Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Background: Effective treatment for chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) with conventional combined therapy comprising H1 and H2 antihistamine is effective but associated with high relapse rate. Newer H1 blocker rupatadine alone is similarly effective with less relapse rate. Also it is convenient for the patient as similar efficacy is obtained with single dosage compared to 3 times dosing in combined therapy. This study was done to compare the traditional treatment with levocetirizine and ranitidine to a newly introduced antihistamine rupatadine for CIU. Materials and Methods: The study was a hospital based prospective randomized control trial among 40 patients with CIU in Dermatology and Venereology department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University(BSMMU), Dhaka from April 2020 to September 2020.Forty patients of CIU were randomly enrolled into two equal groups (group A and B). Patients of group-A were treated with 5 mg of levocetirizine once daily plus 150 mg of ranitidine twice orally daily and group-B were treated with rupatadine 10 mg once daily for one month. The efficacy was assessed 1st and 4th week during treatment and 4 weeks after completion of treatment by observing reduction of itching, regression of the size and shape of lesions and appearance of new lesions. Adverse effects and patient satisfaction were also noted. Results: 75% patients in group A and 80% patients in group B responded to treatment (p>0.05).80% in group A and 85% in group B showed improvement in itching in the first week (p>0.05). . At the end of 4 weeks 95% showed improvement in each group. Appearance of new lesions in first week was 10% and 5% (p>0.05) and at 4th week, 5% and 0% respectively (p>0.05). 75% in group A and 80% in group B had regression in their lesions at the end of first week (p>0.05). At the end of 4th week, it was 85% and 90% (p>0.05). 40% in group A and 25% in group B had relapse of itching at follow up (p<0.05). Relapse of lesions were 35% and 20% (p<0.05). Overall occurrence of side effects (3 compared to 1) was more in group A. Conclusion: The result of the present study show that both conventional treatment with levocetirizine and ranitidine combination and newer agent rupatadine alone has similar efficacy in reducing clinical sign and symptoms of CIU. But rupatadine has significantly reduced the relapse rate and so it is a more efficacious and also safer option with less adverse effects for the treatment of CIU in comparison to conventional treatment. Rupatadine is also more convenient option for patients in term of dosage schedule.