title: Retrospective study on fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray efficacy in patients with allergic rhinitis: evaluation of clinical and laboratory parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In allergic rhinitis, allergenic stimulation causes the release of various mediators that induce symptoms and the development of chronic inflammation, which, in turn, is caused by cells involved in the late phase of inflammation, such as eosinophils. The eosinophils also cause damage at the mucosal level through the secretion of eosinophil cationic protein and other preformed factors contained in their granules. The objective was to verify the efficacy of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray in patients with allergic rhinitis; in a retrospective study, we have evaluated mediators of inflammation, making correlations with the clinical symptoms score during and outside the pollen season.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with allergic rhinitis and 15 normal controls were included in our study. Eosinophil cationic protein, eosinophil chemotactic activity, and blood and nasal lavage eosinophil count were evaluated as laboratory parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found a significant increase in nasal lavage levels of eosinophil cationic protein in allergic patients, and this was strictly correlated with the clinical symptoms score. No differences were found in the eosinophil count of allergic patients and in the serum eosinophil cationic protein of patients sensitized to seasonal allergens in comparison with normal subjects. By contrast, an increase in serum eosinophil cationic protein level was found in patients sensitized to perennial allergens. After topical administration of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray, a reduction in nasal lavage eosinophil cationic protein secretion was obtained with a reduction of eosinophil chemotactic activity at the local level. This reduction correlated with an improvement of clinical symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical improvement and reduction in nasal lavage eosinophil cationic protein and eosinophil chemotactic activity after administration of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray further confirms the role of this treatment in allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases, University of Bari Medical School, Policlinico, Italy.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ventura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Piccinni
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Matino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giuliano
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Corato
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Napoli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tursi
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002633:Chemotaxis; D002648:Child; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D012260:Ribonucleases
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D000068298:Fluticasone; D012260:Ribonucleases