Mometasone furoate improves congestion in patients with moderate-to-severe seasonal allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND: A recent survey estimated that 85% of patients with allergic rhinitis experience nasal congestion. This symptom considerably impacts quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in subjects with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) experiencing moderate-to-severe nasal congestion. METHODS: Data were obtained from 4 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of MFNS 200 mu g once daily in patients with SAR. Subject-evaluated nasal congestion score data (score range 0-3) from subjects receiving MFNS or placebo were analyzed as a pool and grouped according to baseline score (all pts. with scores >2.5, >2.75, or 3.0). The 2-week average change in score from baseline was analyzed. RESULTS: Significant improvements in mean nasal congestion score were seen with MFNS (n = 490) versus placebo (n = 492; p < 0.001). Overall, there was a 27% improvement in this score in patients receiving MFNS versus 13% with placebo. MFNS produced significant reductions in the nasal congestion score compared with placebo, even in patients with the most severe baseline congestion (0.98 vs 0.52; p < 0.001). Improvements in scores from baseline of 32%, 33%, and 34% were seen with MFNS versus 22%, 21%, and 18% with placebo (for baseline scores of >2.5, >2.75, or 3.0, respectively), confirming the effectiveness of MFNS regardless of congestion severity. This represents an improvement approximating a decrease from severe to moderate congestion or from moderate-to-severe to mild-to-moderate congestion. MFNS was well tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: MFNS 200 mu g once daily produces statistically significant improvements in nasal congestion score compared with placebo, alleviating severe congestion in patients with moderate-to-severe SAR.