Dr. Theorharides, professor of pharmacology and internal medicine and biochemistry, Tufts Unversity School of Medicine and New England Medical Center, Boston.
Allergy agent more potent in inhibition of IL-6, tryptase
May 1st 2003Boston-Ophthalmic solutions of azelastine HCl (Optivar, Asta Medica/Muro Pharmaceutical Inc., Tewksbury, MA) and olopatadine HCl (Patanol, Alcon Laboratories, Fort Worth, TX) both effectively inhibit the activation of normal cultured human mast cells and the release of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tryptase, and histamine. However, azelastine seemed to be substantially more potent for treating ocular allergy when the two drugs were compared in an in vitro study.
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