The efficacy of intranasal
fluticasone propionate 200 micrograms once daily or 100 micrograms twice daily in treating
perennial allergic rhinitis was evaluated in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 24 weeks' duration in 365 patients. Clinician-rated and patient-rated total nasal symptom severity scores were improved within 1 week of treatment with either regimen of
fluticasone propionate and improvement was maintained over the 24-week treatment period. Clinician-rated overall evaluation indicated a significantly better response in the two
fluticasone propionate groups compared with the placebo group. All efficacy evaluations indicated no difference in response between the
fluticasone propionate 200 micrograms once-daily and 100 micrograms twice-daily groups. Patients in both
fluticasone propionate groups had significantly less
nasal obstruction upon awakening than the placebo group at all assessment periods. Fewer patients in either
fluticasone propionate group used
antihistamine rescue medication compared with the placebo group. The percentage of patients with nasal eosinophils and basophils at the end of the 24-week treatment period was significantly lower in both
fluticasone propionate groups compared with the placebo group. Safety evaluations indicated that intranasal
fluticasone propionate was as safe as placebo when given as 200 micrograms once daily or 100 micrograms twice daily. The incidence of
drug-related adverse events was similar among the
fluticasone propionate and placebo groups except for the incidence of
epistaxis and blood in nasal mucus which was somewhat higher in the
fluticasone propionate twice-daily group. There was no changes in the opthalmic examinations to suggest corticosteriod-induced posterior subcapsular
cataract formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)