Intranasal capsaicin is lacking therapeutic effect in perennial allergic rhinitis to house dust mite. A placebo-controlled study.

Abstract

In a recent placebo-controlled study we demonstrated that capsaicin is an efficacious substance in the treatment of non-allergic non-infectious rhinitis. In this study the therapeutic effect lasted more than 9 months. This effect was not based on modulation of inflammation. To evaluate the effect of repeated application of capsaicin to patients with a nasal allergy to house dust mites (HDM), using the same treatment protocol as recently introduced in the treatment of non-allergic patients. Twenty-six patients with rhinitis, 15 females and 11 males (range: 20-46 years; mean 30.5), allergic to HDM were treated with either capsaicin or placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group design. Nasal reactivity to HDM expressed as nasal symptoms, albumin and leukotriene levels in nasal lavage fluid and responsiveness to histamine, assessed as symptoms before and 6 weeks after treatment, were used to compare both treatment groups. In addition, visual analogue scales and rhinitis quality of life (RQL) assessment before, 6 weeks after and 3 months after treatment were used as outcome variables. No significant effect of capsaicin on nasal challenge tests with HDM (nasal symptoms, albumin and leukotriene levels), on VAS or RQL outcome 6 weeks or 3 month's after treatment, was demonstrated. Capsaicin did have a small effect on the area of the curve (AUC) of histamine dose response curves (P = 0.03). Desensitization with capsaicin in doses sufficient to control symptoms in patients with severe non-allergic rhinitis is lacking therapeutic effect in perennial allergic rhinitis.

• Authors: R Gerth Van Wijk, I T Terreehorst, P G Mulder, I M Garrelds, H M Blom, S Popering
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 30 Issue 12 Pg. 1792-8 (Dec 2000) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 11122219 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Dust
• Capsaicin

Topics

• Administration, Inhalation
• Adult
• Allergens (adverse effects)
• Animals
• Capsaicin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Dust (adverse effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Mites
• Quality of Life
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (drug therapy, etiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires