Thirty patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis entered a double blind study comparing budesonide (nasal spray, 400 micrograms/d) and i.m. injection of 80 mg methylprednisolone acetate. Symptoms were assessed over a "run in" period of 3-7 days followed by a treatment period of 3 weeks. Pollen counts were evaluated daily. Both the systemic and topical corticosteroid treatment resulted in a significant improvement of nasal and ocular symptoms and were accompanied by reduced antihistamine intake. A comparison of the two treatments in relation to the pollen count yielded statistically significantly fewer nasal symptoms, such as itching, secretion, and sneezing in the budesonide-treated group. Nasal blockage and ocular symptoms remained unchanged, but the use of eyedrops was significantly reduced in the methylprednisolone-treated group. Side effects of both treatments were mild and the incidence negligible. Methylprednisolone-treated patients had a significantly lower cortisol value after 7 days but still had a normal response to ACTH-stimulation. We conclude that the acute symptoms of allergic rhinitis are at least as well ameliorated by regular topical application of budesonide as by a single injection of methylprednisolone acetate. The accompanying allergic conjunctivitis may require additional treatment.

The leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast does not provide a significant therapeutic benefit at a dose of 20 mg b.i.d. in patients with chronic urticaria.

No abstract

No abstract

A gel formulation of the antiallergic compound N-acetyl-aspartyl glutamic acid (NAAGA) (Rhinaaxia (R)) has been evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, three-arm, parallel-group comparison with placebo gel (P) and disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) in outpatients suffering from seasonal allergic rhinitis (pollinosis). Nose and eye symptoms were assessed daily by the patients on visual analog scales (VAS), and medical examinations were held after 1 week and at the end of the 4-week treatment. The use of rescue medications (H1-antagonist (terfenadine) and soothing eye-drops (Spersallerg) was recorded as a main assessment indicator of efficacy. For the efficacy analysis, only the periods with relevant pollen concentrations (> or = 50 grains/m3) were considered. The study extended over the two pollen seasons 1989 and 1990. Of 230 included patients, 190 were suitable for efficacy analysis (R = 63, P = 64, DSCG = 63). The VAS data did not reveal a difference between the treatment groups for nasal symptoms, whereas the use of terfenadine tablets was significantly lower in the Rhinaaxia group than in either the placebo (P = 0.0001) or DSCG group (P = 0.03). The eye symptoms were significantly less severe in the Rhinaaxia group than in both placebo (P = 0.0001) and DSCG (P < 0.01) groups. In addition, the use of rescue medication was significantly higher in the placebo than in the Rhinaaxia treatment group (P = 0.0001). The incidence of local untoward effects (itching/burning sensation in the nose) was slightly higher in the Rhinaaxia group, while the overall tolerability assessment was similarly good in all three treatment groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)