Effect of iodoxamide ethyl on allergy skin tests.

Lodoxamide ethyl is a new cromolyn-like drug which prevents antigen-induced mediator release from mast cells and antigen-induced bronchoconstriction in sensitive animals and man. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of a single administration of lodoxamide ethyl on allergy skin tests. The effect of this drug on allergy skin testing was studied in a double-blind design on ten adult subjects allergic to ragweed. Serial end-point titrations with short ragweed extract and with histamine were performed after a placebo and 1- and 3-mg capsules of lodoxamide ethyl. The immediate wheal-and-flare responses as well as the late allergic reaction were recorded. No statistically significant difference was found between lodoxamide ethyl and placebo in the suppression of the allergen-induced immediate wheal-and-flare response or the late allergic reaction. Furthermore, 1 and 3 mg of oral lodoxamide ethyl did not inhibit the histamine-induced cutaneous reactions.