CT assessment of the effect of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray treatment on lower turbinate hypertrophy due to vasomotor rhinitis.

CONCLUSION

Fluticasone propionate (FP) aqueous nasal spray was objectively found to be effective and safe for the treatment of lower turbinate enlargement in patients with vasomotor rhinitis.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy of FP aqueous nasal spray treatment in lower turbinate hypertrophy due to vasomotor rhinitis using CT.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Of 35 patients with hypertrophic lower turbinates due to vasomotor rhinitis, 20 were treated twice daily with FP aqueous nasal spray (200 microg/day) for 3 months continuously and 15 were treated with placebo vehicle as a control group. The local effect of the nasal spray was studied using CT and visual analog scales.

RESULTS

Treatment with FP provided significantly greater relief from the symptom of nasal obstruction compared with placebo over the entire 3-month treatment period (p < 0.001). When the change from baseline was compared between the two groups, FP produced statistically significant reductions in the mucosal area of the lower turbinates and in the thickness of the nasal mucosa after 3 months (p < 0.05).