Effect of combined nasal spray of olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate on the control of allergic rhinitis and concomitant allergic asthma in children

BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is one of the most common diseases in children and adults worldwide. Allergic rhinitis is often combined with other allergic diseases, including asthma. Indeed, 30 % of patients with Allergic rhinitis develop concomitant asthma throughout their life and 80 % of patients with asthma have allergic rhinitis.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of combination nasal spray containing olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate on the control of allergic rhinitis and concomitant bronchial asthma in children of different ages.

METHODS: Sixty children 7–17 years old were included in an open-label observational study with a duration of 57 (56–60) days with uncontrolled persistent moderate/severe (seasonal and/or perennial) allergic rhinitis and concomitant, partially or uncontrolled mild or moderate asthma, who were treated with age-appropriate dosage of olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate nasal spray. Therapy of asthma under the terms of the study protocol remained unchanged. The severity of allergic rhinitis symptoms was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Control of concomitant asthma was determined by validated questionnaires: сACT/ACT, ACQ-5 and quality of life for children with asthma by PAQLQ(s) questionnaire. All study participants underwent the following instrumental and laboratory assessments twice: external respiratory function with bronchodilation test, measurement of nitric oxide in exhaled air, nasal secretion sampling and rhinocytogram, venous blood sampling and clinical blood analysis, and determination of eosinophilic cationic protein level. At intermediate visit after 28 (28–30) days, spirometry was performed. At each visit, patients were asked to fill out questionnaires.

RESULTS: Treatment of allergic rhinitis with nasal spray of a fixed combination olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate revealed statistically significant reduction of allergic rhinitis and asthma symptoms, functional indices such as first second of forced expiration and bronchial reversibility improved. The level of eosinophils in nasal secretion showed a statistically significant decrease.

CONCLUSION: The rapid and effective achievement of allergic rhinitis control in children with a combined olopatadine hydrochloride and mometasone furoate nasal spray may allow for improved control of concomitant allergic asthma and quality of life without escalation of baseline anti-asthmatic therapy.