The effect of levocetirizine and montelukast on clinical symptoms, serum level and skin expression of COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes in patients suffering from chronic autoimmune urticaria – a pilot study

INTRODUCTION: Chronic autoimmune urticaria (CAU) lasts over 6 weeks and is characterized by circulating IgE autoantibodies or IgG against IgE or IgE receptor. AIM: To assess the clinical, laboratory and histological effects of 4-week levocetirizine and montelukast therapy in patients suffering from CAU. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Of 296 tested patients with chronic urticaria 40 had a positive ASST test. Only 17 (16 female/1 male; medium age: 44 years) fulfilled all study inclusion/exclusion criteria. The study was designed as an open, randomized trial with two arms: levocetirizine or montelukast treatment for 4 weeks following a 2-week wash-out period. All participants completed urticaria activity score (UAS) and visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaires before and after both therapies. Blood samples and skin bioptats were obtained before and after treatment to evaluate COX-1 and COX-2 serum concentrations and skin expression. RESULTS: Clinical response to therapy measured with the UAS and VAS was better in the levocetirizine group. Both drugs caused a significant decrease in COX-1 and COX-2 serum level. COX-1 and COX-2 expression in epidermal and dermal inflammatory infiltration did not change significantly in either study group, but a significant decrease of COX-1 expression was observed when the groups were combined for analysis, and the decrease in COX-2 expression in the epidermis was of borderline significance. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of levocetirizine and montelukast in treating CAU may be partly related to the reduction of COX-1 and COX-2 serum level and tissue expression, but further studies on a larger group of patients are needed to support this observation.