Mometasone Furoate Effective Against Ocular Symptoms of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Presented at AAO-HNSF

To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: Mometasone Furoate Effective Against Ocular Symptoms of Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Presented at AAO-HNSF
URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22D52A.htm
Doctor's Guide
September 23, 2008

By Mary Beth Nierengarten

CHICAGO -- September 23, 2008 -- Mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) significantly reduces the ocular symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), according to study data presented at the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) 2008 Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO.

"Clinically, this prospective study adds another dimension to the effectiveness of [MFNS] as a very useful therapy for the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis that so often accompany seasonal allergic rhinitis," said lead author Bruce Prenner, MD, Allergy Associates Medical Group, Inc., San Diego, California.

In a phase 3, double-blind, multicentre study, Dr. Prenner and colleagues randomised 429 patients with ocular symptoms of SAR to either MFNS (administered once daily in the morning at 200 mcg/dose) (n = 220) or placebo (n = 209).

Study subjects were at least 12 years old and had a history of at least 2 years of SAR. Baseline characteristics and severity of ocular symptoms were similar between the two treatment groups.

During the first 15 days of treatment, patients kept a daily diary of ocular symptoms associated with SAR and rated the severity of the symptoms on a scale from 0 (no symptoms) to 3 (severe symptoms).

The primary endpoints of the study were change in baseline in the morning (AM) in average instantaneous total nasal symptom score (the sum of individual scores for rhinorrhoea, sneezing, congestion, and itching), and instantaneous (AM) total ocular symptom score (iTOSS) (the sum of individual eye symptom scores for tearing/watering, redness and itching/burning). These scores were assessed from day 2 to day 15 of treatment.

The results of the study, presented on September 22, show that MFNS given daily at 200 mcg showed significant superiority over placebo in least squares mean changes from baseline in subject-rated average AM iTOSS from day 2 to day 15 (-1.71 vs -1.37, respectively; P = .026).

The treatment was also well tolerated, with most adverse effects rated as mild to moderate.

Although the exact mechanism of action of mometasone in improving ocular and nasal symptoms is not known, the researchers stated that the efficacy shown in this study suggests that "treating patients with therapeutic doses of [MFNS] may preclude the use of topical eye preparations such as antihistamines or mast-cell-stabilising drugs, and thus save the patient the cost and trouble of using a second therapy for the improvement of the typical itching/burning, tearing and redness associated with seasonal nasal congestion, itching, and watery discharge."

[Presentation title: Mometasone Furoate Reduces Ocular Symptoms of Seasonal AR? S100]

http://www.docguide.com

Return to News Story Page

webmaster@pslgroup.com