International Digest
Nasal steroid v. oral antihistamine therapy for hayfever
Canadian Medical Association Journal 1996; 155: 733
Source: Bernstein DI, Creticos PS, Busse WW, Cohen R, Graft DF, Howland WC, et al. Comparison of triamcinolone acetonide nasal inhaler with astemizole in the treatment of ragweed-induced allergic rhinitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol 1996; 97: 749-55.
US researchers compared the efficacy of intranasal therapy with triamcinolone acetonide (200 µg once daily) with that of oral therapy with astemizole (10 mg once daily) in a randomized double-blind study involving 239 patients with seasonal, ragweed-pollen allergic rhinitis. Over the 4-week study period the triamcinolone group showed significantly greater improvements than the astemizole group in nasal itching and stuffiness, sneezing and total nasal symptoms. Overall scores for postnasal drip, runny nose and ocular symptoms did not differ between the groups. The largest differences corresponded to the period of peak ragweed pollen counts, during which the triamcinolone group fared significantly better than the astemizole group with respect to all nasal symptoms. Triamcinolone was as well tolerated as astemizole.
| CMAJ September 15, 1996 (vol 155, no 6) |