Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Subject must be informed and give written informed consent for study participation
Subject must be able to adhere to dose and visit schedules and meet study requirements
Subject must be aged 18 to 65 (inclusive); gender and race are irrelevant
Subject must have at least a two-year history of allergic rhinitis consistent with persistent allergic rhinitis (defined as symptoms of allergic rhinitis present on four days or more per week or for four or more consecutive weeks per year)
In the previous pollen season, subject must have been sufficiently symptomatic, with a T6SS (reflective) symptoms severity score of at least 10 (out of max. 18). (Symptoms include nasal itching, sneezing, rhinorrhea, congestion, conjunctival itching, redness and tearing graded on a scale of 0 -absent, 1 - mild, 2 - moderate, 3 - severe)
Subject must have a positive skin prick test at screening to one or more allergens in the local panel of seasonal allergens (e.g. grass, tree pollen), but not to perennial allergens. Subject must demonstrate an antigen-induced skin prick wheal of at least 3mm greater in diameter than the diluent control.
Subject must have had a positive nasal allergen challenge within the previous six months. (see [Riechelmann])
Nonsterile or premenopausal female subjects must use a medically accepted method of birth control, e.g. oral contraceptives

Exclusion Criteria:

Failure to fulfill all of the above mentioned inclusion criteria
Insufficient ability to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study
Insufficient legal competence or insufficient knowledge of the German language
Participation in another clinical trial within the previous three months
Pregnancy or lactation
Positive skin prick test to frequently occurring perennial allergens, e.g. house dust mites, cats
History of anaphylaxis and/or severe local reactions to skin testing with allergens
Intolerable symptoms that would make participating in the study unbearable, especially the 45 min MRI-session
Any viral inflammation of the upper respiratory system, acute or chronic sinusitis, rhinitis medicamentosa, nasal polyps, clinically relevant anatomic deviations of the nose, active or inactive tuberculosis of the respiratory tract, or asthma other than mild intermittent asthma treated with ß2-agonists on an as-needed basis
Any kind of clinically significant disease, especially any signs of active persistent allergic rhinitis, which would interfere with the study evaluations.
Known intolerance to levocetirizine or any other components of the study drugs
Surgery of the nose or the nasal sinuses within the previous six months
Any deviation from the norm in the physical investigation of any disease which in the investigator's judgment might require impermissible medication, influence study performance and results or affect the patients safety
Intake of drugs which might interfere with the study results
History of alcohol or drug abuse