New Trial Presented at AAAAI Reports that the Growth of Children 2-5 Years Old with Year-Round Allergic Rhinitis Continued According to Normal Age-Adjusted Distribution Over a 6-Month Treatment with N...( BRIDGEWATER N.J. March 15 /- Data...),Health

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., March 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) suggests that the continuous use of intranasal corticosteroid Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone acetonide) Nasal Spray had no treatment effect on stature-for age distribution among children aged 2-5 years old with year-round allergic rhinitis.

"Continuous use of intranasal corticosteroids in the treatment of very young children with allergic rhinitis has in the past raised concerns regarding potential effects on growth," said study investigator Dr. Paul Ratner, Medical Director, Sylvana Research Associates, San Antonio, Texas. "I am encouraged by the results which showed that following 6 month treatment with Nasacort AQ, the stature-for-age distribution did not appear to shift compared to pretreatment in children aged 2-5 years who suffer from year-round allergies."

This is one of the first controlled studies in the U.S. designed to investigate both the efficacy and safety of intranasal corticosteroid treatment in children aged 2-5 years with year-round allergies. The trial included a four-week, multicenter, double-blind treatment period during which 433 children were randomized to receive either Nasacort AQ 110 micrograms or placebo as 1 spray per nostril once daily. After four weeks, 353 patients entered into a 6-month open label phase receiving treatment with once-daily Nasacort AQ. Height was measured at Visit 1 to establish a baseline, Visit 4 after the initial 4 weeks, and Visit 8 when the 6-month open label period completed. The treatment-emergent adverse event profile was similar between the Nasacort AQ group and placebo group, and consistent with the profile in children 6 years of age and older. To participate in the study, patients had to have year-round allergic rhinitis.

Height was measured at each office visit using a stadiometer, an instrument for measuring height. After the four-
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