EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF FLUTICASONE PROPIO NATE IN THE TREATMENT OF ALLERGIC RHINITIS

Fluticasone-17-propionate (fluticasone) is a second-generation glucoco rticoid which proved to be successful in the treatment of allergic rhi nitis, bronchial asthma, and corticoid-sensitive dermatoses. Since its first launch in 1992 in the United Kingdom, fluticasone-aqueous nasal spray (FP ANS) has become available in more than 95 countries today. Fluticasone propionate demonstrates a high anti-inflammatory potency a long with minimal systemic bioavailability. Extensive clinical experie nce illustrates the high therapeutic efficacy and tolerability of flut icasone ANS in the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinit is in adult and pediatric patients. This review article presents an ov erview on the pharmacology of fluticasone propionate, its effects on t he process of allergic inflammation in the nose, and on the existing c linical experience in the use of FP ANS for the treatment of allergic rhinitis.