Fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray in pregnancy rhinitis

Pregnancy rhinitis is a common condition with longstanding nasal congestion; troublesome for the mother, possibly also affecting the fetus. There is need for a safe, effective treatment. Nasal corticosteroids, indisputable in other types of rhinitis, have not been evaluated in pregnancy rhinitis. In this placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study with parallel groups, we evaluated the effect of 8 weeks of treatment with fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray in 53 women with pregnancy rhinitis. Daily symptom scores and nasal peak expiratory flow, as well as acoustic rhinometry before and after treatment, did not show any difference between the groups. Placebo resulted in 6/27 responders, compared with 5/26 for active treatment. There was no detectable influence on maternal cortisol as measured by morning S-cortisol and overnight 12-h-U-cortisol, or any difference in ultrasound measures of fetal growth or pregnancy outcome. Altogether, our study indicates no significant effects of the treatment described here.