Intranasal Mometasone Furoate Alleviates the Ocular Symptoms Associated with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: Results of a Post Hoc Analysis

Abstract

Background: Burdensome symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR) include nasal and ocular symptoms such as itching, tearing and redness. Intranasal corticosteroids are efficacious in the treatment of nasal symptoms of AR. Objective: It was the aim of this study to determine the efficacy of the intranasal corticosteroid mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) in relieving ocular symptoms associated with seasonal AR (SAR). Methods: Ocular symptom data were analyzed for subjects ≧12 years of age, randomized to MFNS 200 µg q.d. (n = 176) or placebo (n = 177) in a placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. Post hoc efficacy analysis assessed the mean change from baseline in subject-reported total ocular symptom scores (TOSS) averaged over the treatment period. Results: Mean baseline TOSS was 4.91 for the MFNS group and comparable (5.05) for the placebo group – combined average for individual symptoms such as itching, tearing and redness ranged from 0 (no symptoms) to 9 (all symptoms, severe). Mean change from baseline in TOSS averaged over days 1–15 was –1.42 for the MFNS group and –0.94 for the placebo group (p = 0.02), for an observed treatment difference of 0.49 (statistical data rounded to 2 decimal positions). Improvement in individual symptoms (eye itching, tearing and redness) contributed to this treatment effect; the greatest improvement occurred with tearing, which decreased –0.52 from the baseline score 1.59 in the MFNS group and –0.31 from 1.67 in those receiving placebo (p < 0.01), for an observed treatment difference of 0.21. Treatment with MFNS was safe and well tolerated. Conclusion: MFNS is effective in reducing ocular symptoms of SAR, in addition to its established efficacy in reducing nasal symptoms of SAR.