Mometasone furoate nasal spray increases the number of minimal-symptom days in patients with acute rhinosinusitis

BackgroundAcute rhinosinusitis (ARS) is triggered by viral or, uncommonly, bacterial infection, causing inflammatory symptoms for ≤12 weeks.ObjectiveTo investigate effects of mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) vs amoxicillin and placebo on minimal-symptom days.MethodsA double-blind, parallel-group, placebo- and active-controlled 15-day study randomly assigned patients 12 years of age or older to MFNS 200 μg twice daily, MFNS 200 μg once daily, amoxicillin 500 mg 3 times daily, or placebo.Patients had baseline rhinosinusitis major symptom score (MSS; combined rhinorrhea, postnasal drip, congestion, sinus headache, facial pain) of ≥5 and ≤12 (maximum: 15) for 7 to 28 days; scores were similar among groups. Minimal-symptom days and minimal-congestion days were defined post hoc by average am/pm MSS ≤4 and average am/pm congestion ≤1.ResultsMFNS twice daily (n = 234) showed more minimal-symptom days vs placebo (n = 246) (62.69% vs 50.33%; P < .0001) or amoxicillin (n = 248) (54.35%; P = .0040). The MFNS QD was associated with numerically more minimal-symptom days than amoxicillin or placebo (54.72%; P ≤ .8982). MFNS was associated with more minimal-congestion days than placebo (72.97%, 67.73%, and 56.67% for twice daily, once daily, and placebo; P < .0001, each vs placebo) and MFNS BID with more minimal-congestion days than amoxicillin (72.97% vs 64.15%; P = .0007). Median time to first minimal-symptom day sustained until study end was 8.5 days for MFNS BID vs. 11 for placebo (P = .0085).ConclusionMFNS 200 μg twice daily significantly increased minimal-symptom days vs amoxicillin or placebo in patients with ARS. Results of this intranasal corticosteroids (INS) therapy indicate it can improve outcomes and potentially reduce inappropriate antibiotic use.