Treatment of allergic rhinitis during pregnancy. 2004

Nesil Keleş
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Istanbul University, Istanbul School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.

BACKGROUND Allergic rhinitis (AR) affecting approximately 20-30% of women in childbearing age can be considered one of the most common group of medical conditions that complicate pregnancy. AR with symptoms of nasal obstruction, sneezing, and itching may require pharmacotherapy. However, there are concerns regarding the safety of different available agents that can be used during pregnancy with respect to both maternal and fetal well being. CONCLUSIONS The best first-line approach in the management of AR is avoidance of allergens. If environmental modification is ineffective, then the pharmacologic agents should be chosen. For symptoms of rhinorrhea, sneezing, or itching, intranasal cromolyn, with its excellent safety profile, should be considered as first-line therapy. If cromolyn is ineffective or poorly tolerated, first-generation (e.g., chlorpheniramine and tripelennamine) and second generation (e.g., cetirizine and loratadine) antihistamines can be given. Intranasal steroids (e.g., beclomethasone dipropionate, and budesonide) can be added to first-line therapy especially for severe nasal obstruction. There are no epidemiological studies with newer intranasal steroids (e.g., flunisolide, triamcinolone acetonide, fluticasone propionate, and mometasone furoate) during the first trimester of pregnancy. Immunotherapy has not proven to be teratogenic and is clinically useful in improving symptoms. Oral and topical decongestants can be considered as second-line therapy, for short-term relief, when no safer alternative is available.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007167 Immunotherapy Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease. It includes both active and passive immunization as well as immunosuppressive therapy to prevent graft rejection. Immunotherapies
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011248 Pregnancy Complications Conditions or pathological processes associated with pregnancy. They can occur during or after pregnancy, and range from minor discomforts to serious diseases that require medical interventions. They include diseases in pregnant females, and pregnancies in females with diseases. Adverse Birth Outcomes,Complications, Pregnancy,Adverse Birth Outcome,Birth Outcome, Adverse,Complication, Pregnancy,Outcome, Adverse Birth,Pregnancy Complication
D004205 Cromolyn Sodium A chromone complex that acts by inhibiting the release of chemical mediators from sensitized MAST CELLS. It is used in the prophylactic treatment of both allergic and exercise-induced asthma, but does not affect an established asthmatic attack. Disodium Cromoglycate,Sodium Cromoglycate,Aarane,Bicromat Spray,Cromoglicic Acid,Cromoglycate,Cromoglycic Acid,Cromolyn,FPL-670,Intal,Lomudal,Nalcrom,Nasalcrom,Opticrom,Vicrom,Acid, Cromoglicic,Acid, Cromoglycic,Cromoglycate, Disodium,Cromoglycate, Sodium,FPL 670,FPL670
D005260 Female Females
D006634 Histamine H1 Antagonists Drugs that selectively bind to but do not activate histamine H1 receptors, thereby blocking the actions of endogenous histamine. Included here are the classical antihistaminics that antagonize or prevent the action of histamine mainly in immediate hypersensitivity. They act in the bronchi, capillaries, and some other smooth muscles, and are used to prevent or allay motion sickness, seasonal rhinitis, and allergic dermatitis and to induce somnolence. The effects of blocking central nervous system H1 receptors are not as well understood. Antihistamines, Classical,Antihistaminics, Classical,Antihistaminics, H1,Histamine H1 Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonist,Histamine H1 Receptor Antagonists,Histamine H1 Receptor Blockaders,Antagonists, Histamine H1,Antagonists, Histamine H1 Receptor,Antihistamines, Sedating,Blockaders, Histamine H1 Receptor,First Generation H1 Antagonists,H1 Receptor Blockaders,Histamine H1 Blockers,Receptor Blockaders, H1,Antagonist, Histamine H1,Classical Antihistamines,Classical Antihistaminics,H1 Antagonist, Histamine,H1 Antagonists, Histamine,H1 Antihistaminics,Sedating Antihistamines
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000284 Administration, Oral The giving of drugs, chemicals, or other substances by mouth. Drug Administration, Oral,Administration, Oral Drug,Oral Administration,Oral Drug Administration,Administrations, Oral,Administrations, Oral Drug,Drug Administrations, Oral,Oral Administrations,Oral Drug Administrations
D000287 Administration, Topical The application of drug preparations to the surfaces of the body, especially the skin (ADMINISTRATION, CUTANEOUS) or mucous membranes. This method of treatment is used to avoid systemic side effects when high doses are required at a localized area or as an alternative systemic administration route, to avoid hepatic processing for example. Drug Administration, Topical,Administration, Topical Drug,Topical Administration,Topical Drug Administration,Administrations, Topical,Administrations, Topical Drug,Drug Administrations, Topical,Topical Administrations,Topical Drug Administrations
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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