438 Abs t rac ts J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL JANUARY 1996

1021 A M u l t i c e n t e r S t u d y o f t h e Tas t e o f t h e Once -da i l y A n t i h i s t a m i n e Ce t i r i z ine in C h i l d r e n w i t h P e r e n n i a l Al lergic Rhin i t i s i JM Adelglass MD, Dallas, TX,

Cetirizine, an antihistamine, has been shown to be efficacious in the treatmant of symptoms associated with perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR), seasonal allergic rhinitis and chronic urticaria when given once-daily. In the present study, cetirizine (formulated as an alcohol-free, fruit-flavored syrup), was evaluated for taste by 240 children aged 6 to 11 years with PAR. When asked to rate the taste of cetirizine syrup, 69% of children responded that they "liked it/loved it," or thought it was "OK." When asked to compare the taste to other medicines they had previously taken, 37% of the children claimed that it was "better than others." Almost all parents (99%) reported that it was "very easy" or "OK" to give. When asked how difficult it was to give cetirizine syrup compared to other medications previously taken, 93% noted it was "the same/easier."

In conclusion, the acceptance of cetirizinc syrup was high. Many patients found the taste better than other medications and many parents found it easier to administer. The acceptable taste of cetirizine syrup along with the ease of administration and once-daily dosing has the potential to increase patient compliance.

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1023 C h r o n i c NonaUerg ic R h i n i t i s C o m p l a i n t s I d e n t i f i e d in C h r o n i c Fa t i gue S y n d r o m e (CFS) . E Gaumond. D Radulovic. S Wethin2ton, B Wilson. D Clanw, JN Baraniuk. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Upper airway symptoms were assessed by self-report questionnaires in CFS (nffi 23; 1994 criteria), allergic rhinitis (AR; n=21, none with CFS), and normal subjects with neither CFS nor AR (NILML, n--19). 31 symptoms in skin, eye, nose, sinus, and chest categories were weighted as absent (0), mild (1), moderate (2), or severe (3). Means (+SEM) for each category were compared by Student's unpaired t-test. Nose scores were 2.1+ 1.0 (NRML), 8.0+1.2 (AR), and 7.6+1.1 (CFS). Sinus scores were 1.0+0.3 (NRML), 5.0+1.1 (AR), and 8.9+1.0 (CFS). Chest scores were 1.84-1.4 (NRML), 1.9+0.8 (AR) and 10.7:t: 1.8 (CFS). AR scores were significantly higher than NRML for nose (P<0.001), sinus (P<0.001) and total (Pffi0.004). CFS scores were significantly higher than NRML for all variables (P<0.001). CFS scores were significantly higher than AR for sinus (P=0.021), chest (P<0.001) and total (P=0.012). More than 75 % of CFS subjects complained of headache, nasal congestion, post-nasal drip, hoarse voice, skin and eye itch. Skin tests to 14 local allergens were positive in 7/31 (23%) CFS, 7/18 (39%) NRML, and 21/21 (100%) AR subjects, suggesting similar atopy prevaleneas in CFS and NRML. These data suggest that: (i) chronic nasal, sinus, pharyngeal, and chest symptoms are common in CFS, (ii) CFS complaints are similar to those of atopic, but not normal, subjects, and (iii) atopy to common aeroallergens was similar in CFS and NRML. We propose that as yet uncharacterized nonallergic mechanisms contribute to rhinosinusitis and other respiratory complaints in CFS.

1022 Allergies A r e N o t a C a u s e o f C h r o n i c Fa t igue S y n d r o m e (CFS) : l g E C o n c e n t r a t i o n s a n d P reva l ence o f Al lergic R h i n i t i s in A t o p i c , C F S , a n d Nega t ive Control Populations. A.L. MacDowell-Carneiro) P. Pandiri, S. Foong, M. All, J. Bellanti. D. Clanw, J.N. Baraniuk. Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

Allergies have been proposed as a cause of CFS. IgE and clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis (CDAR) were assessed in 113 CFS subjects (1990 criteria). CDAR was present in 35; 10 had confirmatory allergy skin tests (AST). Mean (+SEM) IgE was compared to positive control ("AR": atopic rhinitis, q-CDAR, +AST) and negative control ('Normal" subjects with IgE measured but no allergies, chronic fatigue or immunodeficieacy) groups.

Group CD/~R AST .~n fI~E11U/ml # > 1801U/ml (~) CFS YES YES 10 406 ± 123 6 (60%) CFS YES NO 25 162 + 45 5 (20.0%) CFS NO NO 78 33 + 4 0(0%) AR YES YES 51 392 4- 73 50 (98.0~) Normal NO NO 76 49 + 9 7 (9.2~)

31% of CFS subjects (35/113) had CDAR. Mean [IgE] of CFS+CDAR subjects was the same as AR, and significantly higher than the CFS without AR group (P < 0.01). Since over 85 ~ of CFS subjects complain of rhinitis and sinusitis symptoms (separate findings), and allergic rhinitis appears to be present in only 31% of CFS subjects, these data suggest that nonallergic rhinitis is present in CFS, and that IgE-related mechanisms (atopy, allergies) are not primarily responsible for CFS pathogenesis. Clim'cal impression of AR in CFS subjects should be confirmed with IgE and skin testing.

1024 poll inosis in s o u t h e r n Brazi l F. Vieira, MD. University of Caxias do SUl School of Medicine. Caxias do Sul, Brazil.

Brazil is a large country situated predominantly in tropical area where pollinosis was considered uncommon or non-existent. However, in contrast to most of the country's territory, Southern States are located in subtropical zones, where there are well definite seasons, mainly in high lands (500-1000 m altitude). In the slate ofRin Grande do Sul (29 0S 53 0W/33 32S 53 25W), there was a forest coverture of 40% (year 1850), nowadays there is < 2.6%. In those areas, relevant grasses with allergenic potential appeared naturally or were introduced, and some were very successful in invading urban areas(ex. Lolium multiflornm). The cit 3, of Caxias do Sul( 29 10S 51 10W-Pop 302.000-Alt 800m) has a pollinosis prevalence of 4.8% and a characteristic pollinic season (Spring) coinciding with the time of allergic symptoms (Sep to Nov).It reaches a peak [ ( n ~ ) grass pollen/100 cm2/72h] through the Dhuram Sampler during October and the minimal counts (n=24) are seen in December 0'ears 1984-85). We searched a population of n=2.173 (years 1990 to 1993) considered as having respiratory symptoms. Allergen skin prick testing was performed using allergen panel containing eleven common inhalant antigens including pollen mixed grass (10.000 PNU/ mi), Lignstmm sp, and Platanus acerifolia (10.000 PNU/ml). 13.5% (n=293) of the patients were considered as having seasonal allergic rhinitis or asthma by history and positive skin testing. Grasses contributed with 99.3% of the total, associated or not with perennial antigens or tree pollens.

The increase of the population and the modification of the environment may have contributed to the appearance of pollinnsis in Southern Brazil.