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Mometasone Furoate Nasal Spray Appears Effective, Safe In Chromic Sinusitus: Presented at EAACI
By Michael Smith
AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS -- June 14, 2004 -- Mometasone furoate, a corticosteroid, in a nasal spray (MFNS) formulation, is both safe and effective in treating chronic sinusitis, say German researchers.
This finding was presented by Karl Hormann, MD, of Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany at the 23rd Congress of the European Academy of Allergology and Clinical Immunotherapy (EAACI).
"Sinusitis is a frequent disease with an increasing prevalence," said Dr. Hormann. In fact, in the 1-year period from July 200 to June 2001, he said, 2.6 million cases were diagnosed in Germany.
With that background, researchers are studying monotherapy using topically applied corticosteroids and MFNS has been shown to be effective as an adjunct treatment.
But with the support of the German Society for Otorhinolaryngology, Dr. Hormann and colleagues in 9 German centers decided to test MFNS as monotherapy in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Sixty patients with a diagnosis of chronic sinusitis, a positive computed tomography scan showing paranasal sinus opacity, and moderate or severe nasal obstruction were randomized to receive either 200 micrograms of MFNS or a placebo nasal spray for 112 consecutive days.
At baseline, physicians documented their findings at baseline, and after 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks, the patients rated their symptoms daily in a diary. As well, they filled out the rhinosinusitis disability index questionnaire the patients at baseline, and after 2 and 16 weeks.
Adverse events were minimal, Dr. Hormann said. The most common event was nosebleed, experienced by about 1 patient in 10 in each group. One patient left each arm of the study.
Four in 5 of the patients receiving MFNS said they were satisfied with their treatment, compared with just over half of the placebo patients, Dr. Hormann said. At the same time, their physicians' ratings of efficacy were almost identical to the patients' own. Both results were statistically significant.
There was clear numerical superiority for MFNS in terms of total symptoms scores over the course of the study, he concluded, indicating what he called "clinical relevant advantages" for patients.
277 - The treatment of chronic sinusitis with mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS)
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