title: Budesonide powder administration for the treatment of grass-pollen-induced allergic rhinitis.
abstract: The new dry-powder inhaler system, Turbuhaler, has proved to be equivalent to metered-dose inhalers when used in the nose, and the objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy, dose-response effects, and safety of budesonide powder given in the morning during the grass pollen season to patients with grass-pollen-induced allergic rhinitis. Of 190 randomized patients, 186 were treated and 180 completed this double-blind study, which comprised a 4-week treatment period, preceded by a 1-week run-in period. The patients were randomized to three parallel treatment groups: budesonide 400 micrograms, budesonide 200 micrograms, or placebo once in the morning. Assessment of efficacy, by comparing changes in mean scores of nasal symptoms from run-in to treatment, showed a statistically significant effect for all symptoms with active treatments, as compared with placebo. The mean reduction of symptom severity was more pronounced in the 400-micrograms group than in the 200-micrograms group, and this difference was statistically significant for runny nose (P < 0.02) and combined nasal symptoms (P < 0.02). Nasal peak-inspiratory flow improved significantly in both budesonide-treated groups, as compared with placebo (P < 0.01 and P < 0.01). During the treatment period, patients on active treatment showed, on average, a reduction of all nasal symptoms, whereas the placebo-treated patients, on average, showed an increase of nasal symptoms. Approximately 40% in the high-dose group felt total control of rhinitis symptoms, as compared with 26% in the low-dose group. There was no difference between budesonide- and placebo-treated groups in side-effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Diseases, University Hospital of Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hedbys
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mygind
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019819:Budesonide; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011208:Powders; D011282:Pregnenediones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011208:Powders; D011282:Pregnenediones; D019819:Budesonide