Abstract
We evaluated the efficacy of a fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS) at 200μg/ day for 2 weeks on nasal obstructions in 13 patients (8 males and 5 females, aged 19—51 years, mean age 32.9 years) with perennial nasal allergy symptoms. A 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) was used for the subjective measurement of the nasal sensation of airflow, and acoustic rhinometry (AR) was used for the objective measurement at one, two and 3 weeks after the start of the medication.
1) The mean±standard error (SE) of the VAS score was 46.1±4.2 before the medication, 33.8±5.6 at one week, 31.8±4.8 at two weeks and 41.6±6.0 at three weeks post-medication. A significant difference in the VAS score was detected by Friedman's test (p=0.0011).
2) The mean±SE of the right+lef t minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) of the nose was 0.59±0.08cm2 before the medication, 0.74±0.08cm2 at one week, 0.75±0.08 cm2 at two weeks and 0.72±0.06cm2 at three weeks post-medication. A significant difference in the MCA was detected by a one-way repeated-measures ANOVA (P=0.0178).
3) The mean±SE of the right + left nasal cavity volumes (NCV) was 12.62±1.07cm3 before the medication, 14.44±1.15cm3 at one week, 14.68±1.13cm3 at two weeks and 14.12±0.74cm3 at three weeks post-medication. A significant difference in the NCV was found by a one-way repeatedmeasures ANOVA (P=0.0471).
In conclusion, our VAS and AR studies demonstrated that FPANS was effective in reducing allergy-induced nasal obstruction.
