The ARIA/EAACI criteria for antihistamines: an assessment of the efficacy, safety and pharmacology of desloratadine

BACKGROUND: The definition of allergic rhinitis and the classification of its severity and treatment have advanced in recent years following the publication of the Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact of Asthma (ARIA) document. The ARIA and the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (ARIA/EAACI) have published a set of recommendations that outline the pharmacological and clinical criteria to be met by medications commonly used in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. METHODS: An international group of experts met to assess the profile of the antihistamine, desloratadine, under the ARIA/EAACI criteria. Data on desloratadine were collected from peer-reviewed clinical studies and review articles, which were corroborated and augmented by comprehensive public access documents from the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Based on this systematic review, it was concluded that the efficacy, safety and pharmacology of desloratadine broadly meet the ARIA/EAACI criteria for antihistamines.