Efficacy and safety of beclomethasone dipropionate nasal aerosol in children with perennial allergic rhinitis

Background: Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) nasal aerosol (non-aqueous) is approved for management of seasonal and perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) in adolescents and adults. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of BDP nasal aerosol at 80 mg/day in children with PAR. Methods: This 12-week, phase 3, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study randomized 547 children (4-11 years old) with PAR to once-daily BDP nasal aerosol at 80 mg/day or placebo. The primary end point was change from baseline in average morning and evening reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS) during the first 6 weeks of treatment in patients 6 to 11 years old. Changes from baseline in average morning and evening instantaneous TNSS (iTNSS) in children 6 to 11 years old and average rTNSS and iTNSS in children 4 to 11 years old were assessed during the first 6 weeks of treatment. Results: Improvements were significantly greater with BDP nasal aerosol than with placebo during the first 6 weeks of treatment in children 6 to 11 years old in average morning and evening rTNSS and iTNSS (mean treatment difference -0.66 [ P = .002] and -0.58 [ P = .004], respectively). Improvements in average morning and evening rTNSS and iTNSS also were significantly greater in patients 4 to 11 years receiving BDP nasal aerosol than with placebo during the first 6 weeks of treatment (P - .002 and P - .004, respectively). Similar improvements were seen during 12 weeks of treatment. The safety profile of BDP nasal aerosol was comparable to that of placebo. Conclusion: The BDP nasal aerosol at 80 mg/day in children 4 to 11 years old was well tolerated and effective in controlling nasal symptoms of PAR. (C) 2015 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc.