Mometasone furoate improves congestion in patients with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.
BACKGROUND
A recent survey estimated that 85% of patients with allergic rhinitis experience nasal congestion. This symptom considerably impacts quality of life.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) experiencing moderate-to-severe nasal congestion.


METHODS
Data were obtained from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of MFNS 200 microg once daily in patients with SAR. Subject-evaluated nasal congestion score data (score range 0-3) from subjects receiving MFNS or placebo were analyzed as a pool and grouped according to baseline score (all pts. with scores >2.5, >2.75, or 3.0). The 2-week average change in score from baseline was analyzed.


RESULTS
Significant improvements in mean nasal congestion score were seen with MFNS (n = 490) versus placebo (n = 492; p < 0.001). Overall, there was a 27% improvement in this score in patients receiving MFNS versus 13% with placebo. MFNS produced significant reductions in the nasal congestion score compared with placebo, even in patients with the most severe baseline congestion (0.98 vs 0.52; p < 0.001). Improvements in scores from baseline of 32%, 33%, and 34% were seen with MFNS versus 22%, 21%, and 18% with placebo (for baseline scores of >2.5, >2.75, or 3.0, respectively), confirming the effectiveness of MFNS regardless of congestion severity. This represents an improvement approximating a decrease from severe to moderate congestion or from moderate-to-severe to mild-to-moderate congestion. MFNS was well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
MFNS 200 microg once daily produces statistically significant improvements in nasal congestion score compared with placebo, alleviating severe congestion in patients with moderate-to-severe SAR.
Berger
William E
WE
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of California, Irvine, 92691, USA. werber@uci.edu
Nayak
Anjuli S
AS
Staudinger
Heribert W
HW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate