Intranasal mometasone furoate alleviates the ocular symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis: results of a post hoc analysis.
BACKGROUND
Burdensome symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) include nasal and ocular symptoms such as itching, tearing and redness. Intranasal corticosteroids are efficacious in the treatment of nasal symptoms of AR.


OBJECTIVE
It was the aim of this study to determine the efficacy of the intranasal corticosteroid mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in relieving ocular symptoms associated with seasonal AR (SAR).


METHODS
Ocular symptom data were analyzed for subjects >or=12 years of age, randomized to MFNS 200 mug q.d. (n = 176) or placebo (n = 177) in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Post hoc efficacy analysis assessed the mean change from baseline in subject-reported total ocular symptom scores (TOSS) averaged over the treatment period.


RESULTS
Mean baseline TOSS was 4.91 for the MFNS group and comparable (5.05) for the placebo group - combined average for individual symptoms such as itching, tearing and redness ranged from 0 (no symptoms) to 9 (all symptoms, severe). Mean change from baseline in TOSS averaged over days 1-15 was -1.42 for the MFNS group and -0.94 for the placebo group (p = 0.02), for an observed treatment difference of 0.49 (statistical data rounded to 2 decimal positions). Improvement in individual symptoms (eye itching, tearing and redness) contributed to this treatment effect; the greatest improvement occurred with tearing, which decreased -0.52 from the baseline score 1.59 in the MFNS group and -0.31 from 1.67 in those receiving placebo (p < 0.01), for an observed treatment difference of 0.21. Treatment with MFNS was safe and well tolerated.


CONCLUSIONS
MFNS is effective in reducing ocular symptoms of SAR, in addition to its established efficacy in reducing nasal symptoms of SAR.
Anolik
Robert
R
Allergy and Asthma Specialists, PC470 Sentry Parkway EastBlue Bell, PA 19422, USA. ranolik@allergypc.com
Nathan
Robert A
RA
Schenkel
Eric
E
Danzig
Melvyn R
MR
Gates
Davis
D
Varghese
Santosh
S
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019819:Budesonide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000730:Androstadienes; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D019819:Budesonide; C523187:fluticasone furoate