Comparison of montelukast and mometasone furoate in the prevention of recurrent nasal polyps

Background: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of montelukast and mometasone furoate nasal spray on the postoperative course of patients with nasal polyposis. Patients and methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with nasal polyposis between March 2006 and August 2007 were included in the study. All patients underwent bilateral endoscopic sphenoethmoidectomy and were randomized postoperatively into two groups. Group A (n = 25) received 10 mg montelukast per day and group B (n = 25) received 400 mu g mometasone furoate nasal spray twice daily. All patients were followed up for 6 months. Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 scores, polyp grades, computerized tomography (CT) scores (Lund-Mackay), eosinophils in peripheral blood and polyp tissue were evaluated before and after surgery. Results: There was a significant reduction in SNOT-22 scores in both groups throughout the study period. There was a significant difference in the recurrence rate between both groups with a marginal advantage of mometasone furoate nasal spray. Eosinophils in peripheral blood were found to be effective on the recurrence rate (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In conclusion, both drugs seem to have a complementary action and further studies are needed to determine which patients should receive which treatment.