Treatment of grass pollen-induced hay fever with intranasal budesonide. A double-blind clinical comparison between budesonide and placebo

Abstract

The clinical effects of intranasal budesonide (16 alpha, 17 alpha (22 R,S) propylmethylenedioxypregana-1-4-diene-11beta 21 diol-3, 20 dione)) - a new non-halogenated glucocorticoid - were evaluated in a double-blind comparison with placebo, in patients with pronounced hay fever. Aerosolized budesonide, using a daily dosage of either 400 microgram or 200 microgram, showed a highly significantly reduction in the nasal symptoms as compared with placebo. No significant difference could be demonstrated between the effects of 400 microgram and 200 microgram per day, suggesting that the lower dosage is adequate. No significant effect on the eye symptoms and no fall in plasma cortisol values were observed with either dosage. Only mild side effects were reported.