Comparison of the efficacy of inhaled budesonide and oral choline in patients with allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
A single blind parallel group study was conducted to evaluate the effects of oral choline [given as tricholine citrate (TRI)] in patients with allergic rhinitis, and compare its efficacy with intranasal budesonide (BUD).


METHODS
The study was conducted at the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, Delhi, India from February 2001 to April 2002. Sixty patients were randomized into 2 groups after a run-in period of 2 weeks. Group A received intranasal BUD 200 microg twice daily and group B received TRI 500 mg thrice daily. The patients were reviewed every 2 weeks up to 8 weeks. The mean individual symptom score, total symptom score and drug score were significantly reduced in both groups (p<0.05) compared to baseline values, with maximum effect occurring within 4 weeks of therapy.


RESULTS
Budesonide showed statistically significant reduction (p<0.05) in all the outcome parameters, when compared to TRI. Crossover study between the 2 treatment groups also showed similar results. Seventy-six percent of patients with BUD and 43% of patients with TRI found the drug to be effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Both intranasal BUD and oral TRI are effective in relieving symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Budesonide was found to be the statistically superior drug.
Das
Sachit
S
Department of Respiratory Medicine, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute,University of Delhi, Delhi, India.
Gupta
Krishan
K
Gupta
Anant
A
Gaur
Shailendra N
SN
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002794:Choline / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019819:Budesonide; D002794:Choline