The importance of a platelet-activating factor antagonist in allergy treatment

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is today considered an important mediator in allergic and inflammatory reactions¹.

While histamine is the primary mediator involved in the pathophysiology of Allergic Rhinitis and chronic Urticaria, it is clearly not the only mediator involved in the inflammatory process². Histamine and platelet-activating factor (PAF) both play an important role in Allergic Rhinitis³.

In an allergic reaction, during the release of mediators, one of the key molecules is PAF. There are PAF receptors both from the mast cell itself as well as over the inflammatory pathway. PAF generates a lot of inflammation⁴.

There is an emerging view that drugs which can inhibit a broader range of inflammatory processes may prove to be more effective in providing symptomatic relief in both Allergic Rhinitis and chronic Urticaria².

Antihistamines which can inhibit a broader range of inflammatory agents such as histamine and PAF are more effective in providing symptomatic relief in allergy patients⁵.

Rupanase, from iNova Pharmaceuticals, is the first antihistamine to have an effect on both histamine and PAF⁶. It is a powerful, non-sedating antihistamine and a potent inhibitor of PAF⁶.

The dual action of Rupanase 10mg targets the allergic cascade at multiple points to block mediators, Histamine and PAF, in both the allergic and inflammatory responses associated with Allergic Rhinitis and Urticaria⁷.

The active ingredient, Rupatadine, has an anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory profile⁶. Rupanase (Rupatadine) provides chronic Urticaria symptom relief within 12 hours⁸, providing up to 24-hour relief with a convenient once-a day-dosage and is well tolerated⁹.

Furthermore, Rupatadine acts within 30 minutes to relieve the symptoms of Allergic Rhinitis and relieves nasal congestion within two hours⁷.

Worldwide, Allergic Rhinitis affects between 10 and 30 percent of the adult population¹⁰ and is a common paediatric condition¹¹. In a worldwide study of over one million adolescents aged 13 and 14 years, the prevalence was 14.6 percent¹¹.

The impact of Allergic Rhinitis on a patient cannot be underestimated. In fact, 66 percent of patients report that nasal allergies impact daily life, 52 percent of patients report that nasal allergies symptoms affect work performance and 40 percent of patients report moderate to severe impact on sleep⁵.

Patients using Rupanase have reported significant improvements in the control of nasal symptoms, severity of disease and health-related Quality of Life¹².

Urticaria can be a debilitating condition. Patients have reported impaired Quality of Life (QoL) due to sleep disruption, energy loss, fatigue, social isolation and emotional/sexual disturbances¹³.

Rupanase has been shown to provide effective and lasting relief from pruritus and wheals; after the first dose observed at 24 hours and relief lasting up to week four of the clinical study¹³.

Help your allergy patients find symptom relief of Allergic Rhinitis and Urticaria with Rupanase⁷.

For more information, go to www.inovapharma.co.za.

DISCLAIMER: This editorial has been commissioned and brought to you by iNova Pharmaceuticals. Content in this editorial is for general information only and is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice.

References:

1. National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) –  Platelet-activating factor (PAF) in allergic diseases: inhibitory effects of anti-allergic drugs, ketotifen and three kampo medicines on PAF production. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1726443 (Website accessed on 24 April 2018).
2. Mullol J et al. Rupatadine in allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria Allergy. 2008 Apr;63 Suppl 87:5-28. doi: 10.1111/j.1398-9995.2008.01640 (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18339040). Website accessed on 9 May 2018
3. Alfaro, V. Role of histamine and platelet-activating factor in allergic rhinitis. Journal of physiology and biochemistry 60(2):101-11 · July 2004 (https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8257462_Role_of_histamine_and_platelet-activating_factor_in_allergic_rhinitis) Website accessed on 9 May 2018
4. Hit it Hard – Medical Chronicle 01 April 2015 (http://academic.sun.ac.za/Health/Media_Review/2015/13Apr15/files/Dr%20_Willie_Visser.pdf) Website accessed on 9 May 2018
5. Church MK. et al. The Scope of Pharmacological and Clinical Effects of Modern Antihistamines with a Special Focus on Rupatadine. WAO Journal. 2010; S1-S16
6. Picado C. Rupatadine: pharmacological profile and its use in the treatment of allergic disorders. Expert Opinion in Pharmacotherapy 2006;7(14):1989-2001.
7. Mullol J et Al. Update on Rupatadine in the Management of Allergic Disorders European Journal of Allergy and Immunology. Volume 70 • Supplement 100 • January 2015
8. Gimenez-Arnau A, et al. Rupatadine fast onset of action. Pruritus and number of wheals relieve in patients suffering from chronic urticaria, a pooled analysis. Poster presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress (EADV), May 2007.
9. RUPANASE package insert.
10. Pawankar R et al. (eds) WAO White Book on Allergy 2011 World Allergy Organization
11. Barr, JG. Allergic rhinitis in children. BMJ 2014 (https://www.bmj.com/content/349/bmj.g4153) Website accessed on 9 May 2018
12. Maiti R et al. Rupatadine and levocetirizine for seasonal Allergic Rhinitis. Arch Ottlaryngol Head Neck Surg 2010; 136(8):796-800.
13. Gimenez-Arnau A. et al. Rupatadine in the treatment of chronic idiopathic Urticaria: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled multicentre study. Allergy 2007; 62: 539-546.