Injectable depot corticosteroid therapy in hay fever.

Forty-two patients with stable hay fever were treated with injections of long-acting corticosteroids. They were randomly assigned to either 2 ml of betamethasone dipropionate + betamethasone phosphate (Diprospan) or 2 ml of methylprednisolone acetate (Depomedrol). Eye and nose symptoms were evaluated according to a four-step scale of weekly intervals. Both steroids were highly efficacious in reducing the symptoms with maximal effect one week after injection and slow diminution during subsequent weeks. However, Diprospan showed a significantly better effect than Depomedrol on all symptoms. It is concluded that depot injectable formulations of corticosteroids are a useful therapeutical alternative in hay fever.