title: The effect of intranasal fluticasone propionate irrigations on salivary cortisol, intraocular pressure, and posterior subcapsular cataracts in postsurgical chronic rhinosinusitis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intranasal corticosteroid irrigations, especially budesonide, are used increasingly in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis. In post-endoscopic sinus surgery patients, irrigations may offer improved delivery at higher doses to the paranasal sinuses than intranasal spray preparations. Fluticasone propionate may have higher potency and lower systemic bioavailability than budesonide, but there is little data on its effects as an intranasal irrigation on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis or on ocular findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients who had previously undergone bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery and had not taken systemic corticosteroids in the last 6 months were prospectively enrolled. Subjects irrigated with 3 mg of fluticasone propionate in 240 mL saline solution twice daily. Salivary cortisol, intraocular pressure, and the presence of posterior subcapsular cataracts were measured before drug administration and after 6 weeks of continuous use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-three subjects completed the study. No subjects had salivary cortisol levels below the normal range before or after therapy, and there was no statistical difference in mean salivary cortisol levels pretreatment and posttreatment (0.294 vs 0.392 μg/dL; p = 0.27). There was no clinical or statistical difference in mean intraocular pressure before or after therapy (13.3 vs 13.3 mmHg; p = 0.86). No subjects developed a posterior subcapsular cataract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fluticasone propionate irrigations did not suppress salivary cortisol levels or result in ocular changes. Irrigation with fluticasone propionate 3 mg in 240 mL saline twice daily may be a safe alternative to other intranasal or systemic corticosteroid treatments for chronic rhinosinusitis patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Li-Xing
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Man
authors.forename: Zachary
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Farhood
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luong
authors.forename: Samer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fakhri
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: Philip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Orlander
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Citardi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000730:Androstadienes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055556:Nasal Lavage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000730:Androstadienes; D000068298:Fluticasone; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: endoscopy; quality-of-life; sinusitis; steroids; topical