Effect of intranasal fluticasone proprionate on the immediate and late allergic reaction and nasal hyperreactivity in patients with a house dust mite allergy

BACKGROUND: Patients with perennial allergic rhinitis develop nasal symptoms not only after allergen exposure, but generally also after non-specific stimuli. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of 2 week's treatment with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS) on the nasal clinical response, inflammatory mediators and nasal hyperreactivity. METHODS: Twenty-four rhinitis patients allergic to house dust mite (HDM), participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. After 2 week's treatment with placebo or 200 micrograms FPANS twice daily, patients were challenged with HDM extract. Symptoms were recorded and nasal lavages were collected for up to 9.5 h after challenge. Nasal hyperreactivity was determined by histamine challenge 24 h later. RESULTS: Because of a carry-over effect for the immediate symptom score, for this variable only the data from the first treatment period were used. FPANS treatment resulted in a significant decrease of nasal symptoms with 70%, 69% and 63% after 100, 1000 and 10,000 Biological Units (BU)/mL of HDM extract respectively. Active treatment resulted in a 76% decrease of the late-phase symptoms. FPANS treatment significantly reduced albumin influx after HDM 1000 BU/mL with 62% and tended to reduce tryptase release after HDM 1000 BU/mL (P = 0.0629). During the late phase FPANS treatment reduced albumin influx with 67% and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) release with 83%. No effect of FPANS was seen on histamine levels. FPANS significantly decreased histamine-induced symptom score with 34%, secretion with 32% and sneezes with 41%. CONCLUSION: FPANS significantly inhibits the immediate and late allergic response, and nasal hyperreactivity, probably by suppressing mast cells and eosinophils in the nasal mucosa.