Efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability of mometasone furoate, levocabastine, and disodium cromoglycate nasal sprays in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
Current guidelines recommend intranasal glucocorticosteroids as first-line therapy for seasonal allergic rhinitis.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the efficacy, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability of the topical glucocorticosteroid mometasone furoate, the topical antihistamine levocabastine hydrochloride, and the cromone disodium cromoglycate in seasonal allergic rhinitis.


METHODS
This study was performed during the 2003 grass pollen season as an open, randomized, parallel-group, single-center study of 123 patients assigned to receive mometasone furoate (200 microg once daily), levocabastine hydrochloride (200 microg twice daily), or disodium cromoglycate (5.6 mg 4 times daily). Symptom scores and nasal inspiratory peak flow measurements were recorded in a patient diary. The global efficacy of the study medication was evaluated by patients after treatment. Eosinophil cationic protein concentrations were measured in nasal secretions before and after treatment. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated as medication cost per treatment success.


RESULTS
Mometasone furoate therapy was significantly superior to the use of levocabastine or disodium cromoglycate with respect to all nasal symptoms, the global evaluation of efficacy, and eosinophil cationic protein concentration. Furthermore, mometasone furoate therapy was significantly superior to disodium cromoglycate therapy with respect to nasal inspiratory peak flow. Medication cost per treatment success was lowest with mometasone furoate use and highest with levocabastine use.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study to compare mometasone furoate nasal spray with nonsteroidal topical treatments for seasonal allergic rhinitis. Mometasone furoate nasal spray was confirmed as a first-choice topical treatment option for seasonal allergic rhinitis.
Lange
Bernd
B
Institut für Atemwegsforschung GmbH, Düsseldorf, Germany. dnreblange@aol.com
Lukat
Karl-Friedrich
KF
Rettig
Klaus
K
Holtappels
Gabriele
G
Bachert
Claus
C
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D010880:Piperidines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein; C047340:levocabastine; D004205:Cromolyn Sodium