Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
To describe recent insight into the efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids in treating ocular signs and symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.
RECENT FINDINGS
The efficacy of intranasal corticosteroids in treating allergic nasal symptoms is well established, and recent evidence indicates that this class of medication may be effective at alleviating ocular symptoms as well. The present review reveals that the method of scoring ocular symptoms in a clinical trial may influence whether statistically significant improvements are detected among patients using intranasal corticosteroids. Improvement is more likely to be detected if symptoms are scored individually rather than pooled into a single ocular symptom score. Furthermore, the practice of allowing rescue medications likewise may preclude the ability to detect statistically significant differences in allergic eye symptoms between intranasal corticosteroids and controls.
SUMMARY
Recent data show a promising effect of intranasal corticosteroids on ocular symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. Additional trials should be conducted that require individuals to score ocular symptoms individually and forbid the use of rescue medications.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Origlieri C, Bielory L

Institution

UMDNJ - New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, USA.

Source

Current opinion in allergy and clinical immunology 8:5 2008 Oct pg 450-6

MeSH

Administration, Intranasal
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Adult
Anti-Allergic Agents
Child
Clinical Trials as Topic
Conjunctivitis, Allergic
Humans
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal
Treatment Outcome

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18769200