Effects of monotherapy with intra-nasal corticosteroid or combines oral histamine and leukotriene receptor antagonists in seasonal allergic rhinitis

A. M. Wilson, L. C. Orr, E. J. Sims, B. J. Lipworth

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

Abstract

The combination of a leukotriene receptor antagonist with an antihistamine may have beneficial effects in seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

To determine how combined oral mediator blockade compares to monotherapy with intranasal corticosteroid in the treatment of SAR.

Twenty-two patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were enrolled in a placebo controlled crossover study comparing 2 weeks therapy of either (a) 200µg intranasal mometasone furoate (MF) once daily or (b) 10mg oral montelukast plus 10mg oral cetirizine once daily (MON/CZ), with a 7–10 day placebo period prior to each treatment period. Domiciliary measures of symptoms and nasal flow were recorded daily. Measurements of posterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and nasal nitric oxide were made after all treatment and placebo periods.

There were significant (P < 0.05) improvements in domiciliary peak nasal flow (l/min) with both MF (133 (3.8)) and MON/CZ (124 (3.8)) compared to pooled placebo (110 (4.0). Both treatments also showed significant improvement in terms of nasal blockage (units) (PL: 1.1(0.1), MF: 0.5 (0.1), MON/CZ 0.7 (0.1); and total nasal symptoms (units) (PL: 3.5 (0.3), MF 1.6 (0.3), MON/CZ 1.7 (0.3)), although there was no significant difference between the two active treatments. There were no significant differences between placebo and treatment for rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry or nitric oxide.

Both intranasal mometasone furoate as monotherapy and oral cetirizine plus montelukast as cotherapy were equally effective for objective and subjective measures of treatment response in SAR. Domiciliary measurements of symptoms and peak flow were more sensitive than laboratory measurements of rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry and nasal nitric oxide.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)61-68
Number of pages8
JournalClinical and Experimental Allergy
Volume31
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2001

Cite this