SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2005
12/1/05
Fluticasone nasal spray treatment of vasomotor rhinitis
Summary
Background - Nasal congestion (N-cong) is a common and prominent symptom of vasomotor rhinitis (VR). Treatment with intranasal steroid sprays such as fluticasone propionate (FP) is often effective in perennial allergic rhinitis. However, the efficacy of agents such as FP in VR is less well characterized.
Findings - Arikan et al of Kinkkale Univ in Turkey compared the efficacy of FP, 200 microg/day vs placebo nasal spray in 35 adults with VR including hypertrophic lower turbinates. During the 3 month treatment period, there a significantly greater reduction in the nasal congestion symptoms in those treated with FP (p<0.001). There was also significantly greater reductions in the mucosal areas of the lower turbinates and in the thickness of the nasal mucosa in those receiving FP treatment (p<0.05).
Reference
Acta Otolaryngol 2006;126:37-42
Editor's Comments
Although the exact pathogenesis of VR is still not well defined, the findings of reduced nasal congestion symptoms during FP therapy in this study are not surprising to me. An added value of this study is the documentation by special CT exams of a significant (though not striking) reduction in the lower turbinate hypertrophy during FP treatment. It would have been very helpful if some objective measure of nasal congestion such as rhinomanometry or acoustic rhinometry had been used to compare with symptoms before and after the treatment trials.
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