Oxatomide in Food Allergies. Comparative Study versus Disodium Chromoglycate

A randomized, controlled, single blind study was carried out to compare the efficacy and safety of oxatomide and disodium chromoglycate in the treatment of adverse reactions to food.Twenty-three patients (16F and 7M) with urticaria (16 patients), respiratory (5 patients), intestinal (15 patients) and/or neurological symptoms (3 patients) were treated for 60 days: 14 (9F and 5M; mean ± SD age 36.3 ± 13.8 years) with oxatomide, 60 mg every evening and 9 (7F and 2M; 31.5 ± 15.1 years) with disodium chromoglycate, 500 mg three times a day. Both therapies lasted two months. On admission and after 15,30 and 60 days skin (wheals, itching, vesicular blisters, scratching lesions), respiratory (rhinorrhea, sneezing, coughing, wheezing), intestinal (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and/or cramps) and neurological (headache, irritability) symptoms were assessed.Wheals decreased in number and size in both groups (p<0.005). Itching became less severe in the two groups (p<0.05), although the improvement in the oxatomide group was faster. Vesicular blisters, present in one patient in the oxatomide group at baseline, disappeared by days 15 and 30, reappearing in a mild form at the end of the study. The frequency of scratching lesions decreased. Sneezing and wheezing disappeared in both groups. Digestive system symptoms also improved.Both treatments were effective as regards cutaneous, intestinal and respiratory symptoms, with a significant reduction of itching, wheals and vesicular blisters and the complete relies of intestinal disorders. The drugs were well tolerated.