The effect of intranasal beclomethasone dipropionate on the nasal mucosa.

In a double blind study the effect of intranasal beclomethasone diproprionate aerosol (BDA) on the morphology of the mucosa of the middle nasal turbinate was examined. Histological specimens were taken from 22 patients receiving BDA and from 15 patients who had received a placebo. Specimens were taken before therapy and after one year of treatment. Polypectomy and ethmoidectomy had been performed on all patients prior to the beginning of treatment. The histological changes of allergic rhinitis were diminished to a greater extent in patients receiving BDA than in the patients in the placebo group. BDA therapy did not cause atrophic rhinitis nor other detrimental changes that could be demonstrated histologically.