Objective: Comparative economic evaluation of clinical application of various alternatives to anti-allergic therapy. The total budget for the treatment of severe chronic idiopathic urticaria for the 12 weeks of the study (4 weeks of therapy and 8 weeks of observation) was assessed according to treatment: Group 1 -cyclosporine2.5 mg/kg/day, Group 2-cetirizine 20 mg and ranitidine 300 mg/day, Group 3 - cetirizine 20 mg. These groups were evaluated by direct medical, direct nonmedical and indirect costs. It was found that the lowest overall cost of treating 100 patients with severe CIU, within 12 weeks of the study were recorded in the group, where a combined therapy of cetirizine 10 mg ranitidine 300 mg. The greatest costs were associated with the appointment of therapy cetirizine 20 mg
Petrov V.I., Razvalyaeva A.V., Malyuzhinskaya N.V., Gorbunov V.A. Estimates of total costs for treatment of chronic id-iopathic urticaria in adults, depending on the scheme antiallergic therapy // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 6, Issue 4, 2010, pp. 759-762

The purpose of the research is to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of cyclosporine and other antihistamines in patients with chronic forms of urticaria resistant to basic first-line therapy. Open randomized controlled study has been performed in parallel groups. 53 patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria ages 18-50 years have been examined. In case of ineffectiveness of previous therapy, patients have been randomized into 2 groups: group I receiving cyclosporine (Sandimmune Neoral ®) 2,5 mg/kg/day, group II receiving cetirizine (Zyrtec ®) 10 mg/day and ranitidine (Zantac ®) 300 mg/day orally. It has been found that the administration of cyclosporine in patients with severe chronic idiopathic urticaria provides a more rapid achievement of clinical effect than the therapy with H1/H2 histamine antagonists. It is confirmed by a significant decrease of total index of severity of illness and major symptoms of skin lesions. This tendency towards normalization of quality of life of patients taking cyclosporine remains during 8 weeks after the medication. Thus administration of cyclosporine can be considered as therapy of choice in patients with chronic idio-pathic urticaria with a severe course and ineffective long-term therapy with antihistamines / systemic corticosteroids
V.I. Petrov, A.V. Razvalyaeva, S.A. Grebnev, N.V. Malyuzhinskaya Clinical efficiency of cyclosporine in chronic idiopathic urticaria in adults // Saratov Journal of Medical Scientific Research, Vol. 6, Issue 2, 2010, pp. 248-252