EFFECT OF 3 MONTHS NASAL STEROID-THERAPY ON NASAL T-CELLS AND LANGERHANS CELLS IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM ALLERGIC RHINITIS

The effect of nasal corticosteroid therapy on allergic rhinitis is unc ertain. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study over 3 months, we investigated the influence of a new corticosteroid spray, fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray (FPANS), on Langerhans cells (CD1a(+) c ells), HLA-DR(+) cells, and T cells in nasal mucosa. Efficacy was eval uated by nasal symptom score. This treatment significantly decreased t he number of CD1a(+) cells and HLA-DR(+) cells in the nasal mucosa. Fu rthermore, a clear trend of decreasing numbers of T cells in nasal epi thelium was found. No change in nasal symptom score was found after th e treatment period. These findings suggest that fluticasone propionate aqueous nasal spray decreases the antigen presentation in nasal aller gy.