Treatment of upper and lower airway disease with azelastine.

Azelastine is capable of interfering with a wide variety of mediators of airway hyperreactivity and provides significant protection and bronchodilation in allergic hay fever and allergic asthma, respectively. Clinical studies have shown that azelastine produces clinically significant bronchodilation of long duration in moderate to severe reversible lower airway disease. In addition, azelastine has been shown to have an effect on the upper airways by effective symptom relief in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis; furthermore, azelastine affords protection against exercise and allergen provocation.