Background: Uncomplicated acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is usually a self-limiting inflammatory condition often treated with antibiotics.
Aims: To assess the safety and efficacy of fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS) compared with placebo for symptomatic relief of uncomplicated ARS.
Methods: A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicentre, 2-week treatment study of FFNS 110 μg once and twice daily was undertaken in adults/adolescents.
Results: A statistically significant reduction was seen in the daily major symptoms score, a composite score of three individual symptoms (nasal congestion/stuffiness, sinus headache/pressure or facial pain/pressure, and postnasal drip on a 0-3 scale) by both FFNS doses compared with placebo (least square mean differences vs. placebo of -0.386 (p=0.008) and -0.357 (p=0.014) for once daily and twice daily FFNS, respectively). The differences in median times to symptom improvement were not statistically significant between each dose of FFNS (7 days) and placebo (8 days). There were no treatment differences in antibiotic use for possible fulminant bacterial rhinosinusitis (3% in each group). The safety profile of FFNS was similar to placebo.
Conclusions: FFNS reduces symptoms of uncomplicated ARS compared with placebo and is well tolerated, providing support for withholding antibiotics in selected patients.