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Intranasal Versus Oral Treatments for Allergic Rhinitis: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

  • Maria Inês Torres
  • , Sara Gil-Mata
  • , Antonio Bognanni
  • , Renato Ferreira-da-Silva
  • , Juan José Yepes-Nuñez
  • , Nuno Lourenço-Silva
  • , António Cardoso-Fernandes
  • , André Ferreira
  • , Henrique Ferreira-Cardoso
  • , Diana Portela
  • , João Teles
  • , Violeta Kvedariene
  • , María Jose Torres
  • , Ludger Klimek
  • , Oliver Pfaar
  • , Luisa Brussino
  • , Torsten Zuberbier
  • , João A. Fonseca
  • , Holger Schünemann
  • , Jean Bousquet
  • Bernardo Sousa-Pinto, Rafael José Vieira, Ana Luísa Neves, Ana Margarida Pereira, Anna Bedbrook, Arunas Valiulis, Cristina Jacomelli, Elena Azzolini, Elena Parmelli, Giorgio Walter Canonica, Jaron Zuberbier, Leticia de las Vecillas, Louis Gilles, Lucas Leemann, Maria Teresa Ventura, Marine Savoure, Mark Dykewicz, Martin Hofmann-Apitius, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, Olga Lourenço, Sanna K. Salmi, Sian Williams, Yuliia Palamarchuk
  • University of Porto
  • McMaster University
  • Universidad de los Andes Colombia
  • Fundación Santa Fe de Bogotá
  • University Hospital Center of Santo António
  • Vilnius University
  • Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Center for Rhinology and Allergology
  • University of Marburg
  • University of Turin
  • Ospedale Mauriziano Umberto I
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
  • Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP
  • Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Treatments for allergic rhinitis include intranasal or oral medications. Objective: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis comparing the effectiveness of intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines versus oral antihistamines or leukotriene receptor antagonists in improving allergic rhinitis symptoms and quality of life. Methods: We searched four bibliographic databases and three clinical trial datasets for randomized controlled trials (1) assessing patients aged 12 years and older with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, and (2) comparing intranasal corticosteroids or antihistamines versus oral antihistamines or leukotriene receptor antagonists. We performed a meta-analysis of the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), Total Ocular Symptom Score, Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ), development of adverse events, and withdrawals owing to adverse events. Certainty of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation. Results: We included 35 studies, most of which assessed patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and displayed an unclear risk of bias. Superiority of intranasal treatments was found for all assessed outcomes. Intranasal corticosteroids were more effective than oral antihistamines at improving the TNSS (mean difference [MD], –0.86; 95% CI, –1.21 to –0.51; I2 = 70%), Total Ocular Symptom Score (MD, –0.36; 95% CI, –0.56 to –0.17; I2 = 0%), and RQLQ (MD, –0.88; 95% CI, –1.15 to –0.61; I2 = 0%), which were mostly associated with clinically meaningful improvements. Superiority of intranasal corticosteroids at improving the TNSS was also found against oral leukotriene receptor antagonists (MD, –1.05; 95% CI, –1.33 to –0.77). Intranasal antihistamines were more effective than oral antihistamines at improving the TNSS (MD, –0.47; 95% CI, –0.81 to –0.14; I2 = 0%) and RQLQ (MD, –0.31; 95% CI, –0.56 to –0.06; I2 = 0%). Conclusions: Randomized controlled trials suggest that intranasal treatments are more effective than oral treatments at improving symptoms and quality of life in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3404-3418
Number of pages15
JournalJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024

Keywords

  • Allergic rhinitis
  • GRADE approach
  • Intranasal antihistamines
  • Intranasal corticosteroids
  • Leukotriene receptor antagonists
  • Meta-analysis
  • Oral antihistamines

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