Fluticasone propionate: topical or systemic effects?

Abstract

Intranasal corticosteroids have been shown to be more effective than oral antihistamines for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. However, there are some who question whether intranasally administered corticosteroids should be used due to potential systemic effects. Fluticasone propionate, a potent corticosteroid with high specificity for the glucocorticoid receptor, is available as an aqueous nasal spray for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. To determine whether the efficacy of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS) was due to direct topical effects on the nasal mucosa or to indirect systemic effects following absorption from the nasal mucosa or from the swallowed portion of an intranasal dose, FPANS 200 micrograms once daily was compared with oral fluticasone propionate 5 mg or 10 mg once daily or placebo for 2 weeks in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. These oral dosages were chosen to yield low but consistent plasma fluticasone propionate concentrations. Both clinician- and patient-rated scores for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhoea, sneezing, and nasal itching were significantly lower in the intranasal fluticasone propionate group compared with both oral fluticasone propionate groups. A separate placebo-controlled study was conducted in patients with perennial rhinitis to determine if administration of FPANS 200 micrograms once daily for 1 year was associated with adverse systemic effects. At the 1-year assessment, there were no significant effects on bone mineral density or on biochemical markers of bone turnover. Similarly, there was no evidence of posterior subcapsular cataracts nor of glaucoma. Furthermore, there were no significant effects on hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis function as assessed by plasma cortisol and 24-h urinary cortisol response to the 6-h cosyntropin stimulation test. These data confirm that the efficacy of FPANS for the treatment of allergic rhinitis results from direct topical effects, thus reducing the likelihood of adverse systemic effects.

• Authors: W C Howland 3rd
• Journal: Clinical and experimental allergy : journal of the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology (Clin Exp Allergy) Vol. 26 Suppl 3 Pg. 18-22 (May 1996) ISSN: 0954-7894 [Print] England
• PMID: 8735854 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Androstadienes
• Anti-Allergic Agents
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Glucocorticoids
• Fluticasone

Topics

• Administration, Intranasal
• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Androstadienes (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood, pharmacology)
• Anti-Allergic Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood, pharmacology)
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (administration & dosage, adverse effects, blood, pharmacology)
• Child
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Fluticasone
• Glucocorticoids
• Humans
• Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System (drug effects)
• Immune System (drug effects)
• Male
• Nasal Mucosa (drug effects)
• Pituitary-Adrenal System (drug effects)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial (drug therapy)
• Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal (drug therapy)