Improvement in health care utilization and pulmonary function with fluticasone propionate in patients with steroid-dependent asthma at a National Asthma Referral Center.

The impact of switching from other inhaled corticosteroids to fluticasone propionate was studied in patients with severe oral-steroid-dependent asthma over a 1-year period. In this open-label prospective study, patients on maintenance doses of oral and inhaled steroids were referred to a national asthma treatment center and were switchedfrom their previous inhaled corticosteroid to fluticasone propionate 880 microg BID. Compared with data collected from the year prior to enrollment, treatment with fluticasone propionate resulted in significant improvements in pulmonary function, oral steroid requirements, and health resource utilization.

Fluticasone propionate compared with zafirlukast in controlling persistent asthma: a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: The objective of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of fluticasone propionate (an inhaled corticosteroid) with zafirlukast (a leukotriene modifier) for persistent asthma.

Study Design: In this randomized placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind, double-dummy trial, patients underwent an 8- to 14-day run-in period followed by 12 weeks of treatment with inhaled fluticasone propionate (88 mg twice daily by metered-dose inhaler), oral zafirlukast (20 mg twice daily), or placebo.

Population: We included a total of 338 persistent asthma patients, 12 years of age or older, using short-acting b2-agonists alone.

Effects of the inhaled corticosteroids fluticasone propionate, triamcinolone acetonide, and flunisolide and oral prednisone on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in adult patients with asthma.

Two multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, parallel-group studies were conducted in adult patients with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma to assess the effects of 4 weeks of treatment with inhaled corticosteroids on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function. The first study compared fluticasone propionate 100 and 500 microg twice daily, triamcinolone acetonide 300 and 500 microg twice daily, oral prednisone 10 mg every morning, and placebo. The second study compared fluticasone propionate 100 and 250 microg twice daily, flunisolide 500 microg twice daily, and placebo.

Effects of fluticasone propionate, triamcinolone acetonide, prednisone, and placebo on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Background: Many clinicians are reluctant to prescribe inhaled corticosteroids because of concerns over potential effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the adrenal responses to 6-hour cosyntropin infusion after treatment with fluticasone propionate aerosol, triamcinolone acetonide aerosol, prednisone, and placebo for 4 weeks, a sufficient time interval to assess any effects on the adrenal response to stress.

Methods: This double-blind, triple-dummy, randomized, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 128 patients to evaluate adrenal response to 6-hour cosyntropin infusion (a clinically relevant method for evaluating adrenal function) after 28 days of treatment with fluticasone propionate aerosol 88 microg or 220 microg twice daily, triamcinolone acetonide aerosol 200 microg 4 times daily or 400 microg twice daily, prednisone 10 mg once daily, and placebo.

A comparison of the efficacy of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray and loratadine, alone and in combination, for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Intranasal corticosteroids and oral antihistamines are both effective in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis, although the therapeutic value of administering the two types of agents concurrently has rarely been evaluated. This study was designed to compared the efficacy, safety, and impact on quality of life of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FP ANS), loratadine, FP ANS plus loratadine, and placebo (an aqueous nasal spray plus tablet) in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis during the mountain cedar allergy season in south central Texas.

Methods: Six hundred patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were treated for 2 weeks with either FP ANS 200 microgram once daily, loratadine 10 mg once daily, the FP ANS and loratadine regimens combined, or placebo in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study.

Fluticasone propionate powder administered through Diskhaler versus triamcinolone acetonide aerosol administered through metered-dose inhaler in patients with persistent asthma.

Background: Attempts to delineate efficacy and safety differences among inhaled corticosteroids have been difficult because of the lack of well-controlled, comparative studies reported in the medical literature.

Methods: A randomized, double-blind, double-dummy study was conducted in 24 outpatient centers. A total of 291 male and female patients at least 12 years of age with asthma (FEV1 between 50% and 80% of predicted value), who had previously received maintenance therapy with beclomethasone dipropionate or triamcinolone acetonide, were switched to treatment with fluticasone propionate powder (250 microg twice daily), triamcinolone acetonide aerosol (200 microg four times daily), or placebo for 24 weeks.

Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray compared with terfenadine tablets in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Comparative studies with topical corticosteroids and antihistamines for treatment of allergic rhinitis have not always demonstrated clear distinctions between the two on the basis of therapeutic efficacy.

Objective: This study was designed to compare the efficacy and tolerability of fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray with those of terfenadine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Methods: Three hundred forty-eight patients with allergic rhinitis were given fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (200 micrograms once daily), terfenadine tablets (60 mg twice daily), or placebo for 4 weeks in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group study.

Nasal cytology in patients with allergic rhinitis: effects of intranasal fluticasone propionate.

Background: Nasal cytograms of patients with allergic rhinitis contain increased numbers of eosinophils and basophilic cells. Neutrophils are also more numerous in cytograms of allergic persons. Topical intranasal corticosteroid therapy for allergic rhinitis has been shown to decrease the numbers of some inflammatory cell types.

Fluticasone propionate: an effective alternative treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents.

Background: Topical corticosteroids are widely regarded as the reference standard in allergic rhinitis therapy because they are well tolerated and effective against all rhinitis symptoms. We evaluated the efficacy, onset of action, and safety of two dosing regimens of the new corticosteroid fluticasone propionate compared with that of beclomethasone dipropionate in patients with moderate to severe seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Methods: In this double-blind, randomized multicenter trial, 110 adolescents and 128 adults were treated for 4 weeks with one of the following regimens: fluticasone aqueous nasal spray 100 micrograms twice daily or 200 micrograms once daily, beclomethasone aqueous nasal spray 168 micrograms twice daily, or placebo.

Once daily fluticasone propionate is as effective for perennial allergic rhinitis as twice daily beclomethasone diproprionate.

Background: Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray, a new potent corticosteroid, is effective when given once or twice daily for seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Methods: Fluticasone propionate was compared with beclomethasone dipropionate in a multicenter double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 466 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. Adults and adolescents (aged 12 to 71 years) with moderate to severe symptoms, nasal eosinophilia, and a positive skin test reaction (> or = 2+) to a perennial allergen received fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray 100 micrograms twice daily or 200 micrograms once daily, or beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray 168 micrograms twice daily, or placebo for 6 months.

Fluticasone propionate given once daily is as effective for seasonal allergic rhinitis as beclomethasone dipropionate given twice daily.

Fluticasone propionate was compared with beclomethasone dipropionate for the treatment of allergic rhinitis in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study during the mountain cedar (Juniperus ashei) pollination season in central Texas. Adults (n = 313) with moderate to severe symptoms were treated with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray 200 micrograms once a day or beclomethasone dipropionate aqueous nasal spray 168 micrograms twice a day or placebo for 2 weeks. Fluticasone propionate administered once daily and beclomethasone dipropionate administered twice daily were equally effective as assessed by clinician- and patient-rated scores for nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and nasal itching throughout the treatment and follow-up periods.

Once daily fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray is an effective treatment for seasonal allergic rhinitis.

A multicenter double-blind, randomized, parallel group study was conducted to evaluate the once daily administration of fluticasone propionate, a potent, new corticosteroid preparation, for the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis. Adult patients (n = 227) were treated for 2 weeks with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray 200 micrograms QD or 100 micrograms BID or matching placebo during the autumn pollen season. Overall, the administration of fluticasone propionate once daily in the morning was as effective as the twice daily dosage regimen, and either regimen was more effective than placebo.

Albuterol treatment for children with asthma: a comparison of inhaled powder and aerosol.

A dose-ranging study and a 12-week treatment study were conducted in children with asthma, aged 4 to 12 years, to assess the efficacy and safety of albuterol inhaled as either an aerosol or as dry powder. Both studies were double-blind and placebo-controlled with randomized assignment to treatment. The dose-ranging study in 30 patients indicated that similar single doses of albuterol aerosol and powder had comparable effects with the intermediate doses (i.

Ranitidine protects against gastroduodenal mucosal damage associated with chronic aspirin therapy.

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether concomitant administration of ranitidine could protect against the gastroduodenal mucosal damage associated with long-term aspirin therapy in healthy men. Twenty-four subjects received ranitidine (150 mg twice daily) plus aspirin (650 mg four times daily), and 19 received placebo twice daily plus aspirin (650 mg four times daily) for four weeks. Gastric injury and duodenal injury were assessed separately according to a numerical rating scale for incidence and severity of lesions observed during endoscopic examinations at baseline and after four weeks of treatment.

Single-unit and multiunit analyses of renorenal reflexes elicited by stimulation of renal chemoreceptors in the rat.

Stimulation of renal chemoreceptors, induced by backflow of concentrated urine into the renal pelvis, elicited a reflex increase in the rate of multiunit efferent renal nerve activity in rats. Ipsilateral stimulation increased the rate by 17.1 +/- 4.

Renal chemoreceptors.

A study of the renal receptors and types of stimuli which give origin to supraspinal and spinal-mediated autonomic reflexes is presented. Multiunit and single unit recordings from the afferent renal nerves of male Sprague-Dawley rats have revealed two groups of renal chemosensitive receptors (chemoreceptors). These we have called renal R1 and R2 "chemoceptive" receptors.

The effectiveness of hourly cuff deflation in minimizing tracheal damage.

The efficacy of hourly endotracheal tube cuff deflations in minimizing tracheal damage has not been clearly established. Two investigations which specifically address this question arrive at differing conclusions. These investigations fail to report important variables which may have explained the difference in their results.