Double-blind trial comparing two dosage schedules of beclomethasone dipropionate aerosol with a placebo in the treatment of perennial rhinitis for twelve months. Brompton Hospital/medical research council collaborative trial.

Abstract

A double-blind trial comparing two dosage schedules of beclomethasone dipropinate, 200 micrograms 400 micrograms, with a placebo in the treatment of perennial rhinitis for 12 months has been undertaken in 108 patients. Both schedules of beclomethasone dipropionate were therapeutically effective but the improvement in both the nasal and conjunctival symptoms was more marked with the higher dosage. Clinical candidiasis was not observed on inspection of the nose in any of the patients before or during the trial and in only one patient was clinical candidiasis observed on inspection of the throat. Epistaxes occurred in twelve of forty patients allocated to beclomethasone dipropionate and four of twenty-three allocated to placebo who had not had them before the trial. Most of the episodes were minor but four patients, all on beclomethasone dipropionate, reduced the aerosol dosage because of epistaxes.