Acoustic rhinometric assessment of nasal obstruction after treatment with fluticasone propionate in patients with perennial rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of fluticasone propionate (FP) on the symptom of nasal obstruction and to assess the correlation between the subjective visual analogue score (VAS) and the objective acoustic rhinometry (AR) measurements.


METHODS
A prospective study of 45 consecutive patients, 30 males and 15 females with a mean age of 27 years (range: 16-59 years), with moderate/severe symptoms of perennial rhinitis who were treated by FP nasal spray for 4 weeks. AR and VAS were used to evaluate, compare and correlate the efficacy of FP nasal sprays.


RESULTS
There was a significant improvement in the VAS post-treatment (3.9) compared with pre-treatment (6.3). There was also a significant increase in the nasal volume (V) and minimum cross-sectional area (MCA) after intranasal FP. Good correlation between the total MCA and total V was noted. Subjective improvements in symptoms did not correlate well with objective measurements as the correlation between VAS and AR was poor.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides subjective and objective evidence on the efficacy of intranasal FP in improving nasal obstruction in perennial rhinitis. AR also proved to be a useful instrument in monitoring the effectiveness of medical therapy for perennial rhinitis.
Chan
Kwai-Onn
KO
Department of Otolaryngology, Changi General Hospital 2, Simei Street 3, 529889, Singapore, Singapore. kochan@singnet.com.sg
Huang
Zhi-Li
ZL
Wang
De-Yun
DY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000730:Androstadienes; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000068298:Fluticasone