A placebo-controlled, double-blind comparison of topical versus systemic triamcinolone acetonide Aqueous nasal spray in seasonal allergic rhinitis

Triamcinolone acetonide (TAA) Aqueous nasal spray administered once daily has been shown to reduce the symptoms of perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis. This multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind study was designed to determine whether the effects of TAA Aqueous nasal spray are due to topical actions or systemic effects. A total of 297 patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to ragweed received either topical TAA Aqueous nasal spray (220 mu g/day), systemic TAA administered orally (275 mu g/day), or placebo once daily for 2 weeks. Effects on rhinitis symptoms were evaluated from daily patient diaries maintained throughout the study. Topical TAA Aqueous nasal spray provided greater (P < 0.05) improvements in all nasal symptoms compared with systemic TAA and placebo. Improvements in rhinitis symptoms occurred as early as the first day of treatment with topical nasal spray. The effects of systemic TAA and placebo on nasal symptoms were statistically similar. All treatments were well tolerated over the 2-week study period. This study demonstrated that the improvements in rhinitis symptoms with TAA Aqueous nasal spray are attributable to its topical actions and not to any systemic effects.