title: Efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate vs nedocromil sodium as prophylactic treatment for moderate/severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The preventive use of medications has been proposed to be effective in the treatment of seasonal rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mometasone furoate and nedocromil sodium nasal sprays as prophylactic treatment for moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients were recruited from 3 referral allergy centers. Inclusion criteria were history of SAR for 2 years or longer, sensitization to relevant local pollen (grasses, Parietaria, and olive), and age older than 12 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  An open-label, randomized, parallel-group, "real-life" study design was used. Patients received mometasone furoate nasal spray once daily or nedocromil sodium nasal spray 3 times daily starting 2 to 4 weeks before the pollen season and continuing for up to 4 months. Instructions regarding the use of additional medications were given. Diary cards recording symptoms, use of medication, and adverse events were kept by the patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 61 patients completed the study. The prophylactic use of mometasone furoate vs nedocromil sodium led to significantly more days without symptoms (75.1% vs 54.5%; P < .001). The mometasone furoate group also had lower nasal symptom scores (mean, 1.4 vs 2.9; median, 0 vs 2; P < .001) and was more satisfied (93.1% vs 43.5%; P < .001). No serious adverse event was recorded, and there was no difference between the treatments in any adverse event.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prophylactic administration of mometasone furoate before the pollen season is safe and may lead to improved control of SAR compared with the use of nedocromil sodium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pitsios
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kompoti
authors.forename: Emmanouel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Manoussakis
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Garris
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petalas
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tassios
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baibas
authors.forename: Kalliopi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontou-Fili
authors.forename: Photini
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Saxoni-Papageorgiou
authors.forename: Nikolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002648:Child; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D017835:Nedocromil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D017835:Nedocromil