TREATMENT OF RAGWEED HAY-FEVER WITH AN INTRANASAL SPRAY CONTAINING FLUNISOLIDE, A NEW SYNTHETIC CORTICOSTEROID

[摘要] Flunisolide, a new synthetic fluorinated corticosteroid, was administered as a nasal spray via a squeeze bottle to patients with ragweed hay fever for 4 wk during the hay fever season. Patients (51), paired on the basis of similar skin sensitivity to intradermal ragweed (.ltoreq. 10-1 PNU[protein N units]/ml), were randomly assigned in a double-blind manner either an aerosol-containing flunisolide dissolved in vehicle (a mixture of polyethylene glycol and propylene glycol) or vehicle alone. Flunisolide was sprayed as a 0.025% solution 2 times in each nostril twice a day; 48 patients completed the study. Patients (3) dropped out for reasons unrelated to flunisolide usage. On the basis of physician interviews and daily symptom diary scores, patients receiving flunisolide showed significant improvement of had fever symptoms when compared to their counterparts receiving vehicle. No systemic steroid side effects were observed. Morning plasma cortisol levels measured prior to and after 3 wk of flunisolide therapy showed no significant difference between the treatment groups. Adverse local effects were minor and were noted less frequently with flunisolide than with vehicle. Flunisolide''s topical efficacy and lack of adrenal suppression provide distinct advantages over other steroid preparations available for treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.