A comparative study of the effects of intranasal triamcinolone acetonide aerosol (ITAA) and prednisone on adrenocortical function.
A comparison of adrenocortical function before and after treatment with either intranasal triamcinolone acetonide aerosol (ITAA), prednisone, or placebo was done. Sixty-two male subjects with allergic rhinitis were treated for 6 weeks with either ITAA (220 or 440 micrograms/day), oral prednisone (10 mg/day), or placebo in double-blind, parallel-group fashion. Adrenocortical function was assessed by 6-hour cosyntropin stimulation before and at the end of the treatment period. The placebo-treated and two ITAA-treated groups produced no changes in adrenocortical function with treatment, and the ITAA-treated groups were not different from the placebo-treated group with mean +/- SEM changes in stimulated plasma cortisol (micrograms per deciliter) as follows: placebo, -2.68 +/- 1.77; ITAA 220 micrograms, -2.69 +/- 1.18; ITAA 440 micrograms, -2.96 +/- 1.81. The prednisone-treated group had a mean reduction in adrenocortical function (mean +/- SEM change in stimulated plasma cortisol of -19.8 +/- 1.77 micrograms/dl) that was significant (p less than 0.0001) compared with that of the placebo-treated group. The results of this study indicate that 6 weeks of treatment with 220 micrograms/day or 440 micrograms/day of ITAA has no effect on adrenocortical function, but prednisone, at a dosage of 10 mg/day for 6 weeks, produces partial adrenocortical suppression.
Feiss
G
G
Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Central Research, Collegeville, Pa 19426-0107.
Morris
R
R
Rom
D
D
Mansfield
L
L
Dockhorn
R
R
Ellis
E
E
Smith
J A
JA
Tobey
R E
RE
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014481:United States
D000336:Aerosols; D014222:Triamcinolone Acetonide; D011241:Prednisone