title: Effects of intranasal mometasone furoate on itchy ear and palate in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intranasal steroids relieve nasal symptoms and ocular itch in allergic rhinitis. Itchy ear and palate are also common and bothersome symptoms but have received little attention in clinical trials of allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To ascertain the efficacy of mometasone furoate nasal spray in alleviating itchy ear and palate in seasonal allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were pooled from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of mometasone furoate nasal spray, 200 μg/d. Participants rated ear and palate itching from baseline through treatment day 15 as follows: 0, none; 1, mild; 2, moderate; and 3, severe.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 962 study participants received mometasone furoate nasal spray or placebo. Baseline least squares mean itchy ear and palate score was 1.81 for participants receiving mometasone furoate nasal spray (n = 480) and 1.85 for participants receiving placebo (n = 482). Mometasone furoate nasal spray was associated with a greater decrease in itchy and ear palate score vs placebo during the 15-day study period (least squares mean change, -0.73 vs -0.45; P < .001). The difference reached significance on day 2 and persisted through day 15 (P ≤ .01 for each day). Results were similar in a subgroup of patients (n = 305) with moderate-to-severe symptoms at baseline. Adverse events with mometasone furoate nasal spray were similar to those observed in other studies of intranasal steroid therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary findings suggest that mometasone furoate nasal spray effectively treats itchy ear and palate in individuals with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Itchy ear and palate is a relevant end point for future clinical trials of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy, and Rheumatology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, 3255 Eden Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0563, USA. bernstdd@ucmail.uc.edu
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Ariel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Teper
authors.forename: Gokul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gopalan
authors.forename: Davis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gates
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004423:Ear / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D010159:Palate / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011244:Pregnadienediols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018926:Anti-Allergic Agents; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D011244:Pregnadienediols; D000068656:Mometasone Furoate