The effects of topical fluticasone propionate on allergen-induced immediate nasal airways response and eosinophil activation: preliminary results.

Nasal application of grass pollen allergen in atopic individuals with seasonal rhinitis leads to an early rise in nasal airways resistance. The effects of fluticasone propionate, a powerful, topically active glucocorticosteroid, on nasal airways resistance and cellular infiltration of the nasal mucous membrane were investigated. Fluticasone propionate blunted the rise in nasal airway resistance following allergen challenge (P = 0.089). Although this glucocorticosteroid did not affect the total number of eosinophils in biopsies of nasal mucous membrane, the number of activated eosinophils was significantly reduced (P less than 0.05).