Prednisone use in acute rhinosinusitis patients

Systemic corticosteroid monotherapy using prednisone is not effective for patients with acute rhinosinusitis, according to a new study.

Led by Roderick P. Venekamp, in conjunction with the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care in Utrecht, The Netherlands, the study was published in the August 7 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Venekamp and colleagues conducted a block-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial at 54 primary care practices in the Netherlands over a span of three years.

Of the 174 patients included in the trial, those with facial pain or pressure on day 7 were 62.5% in the prednisone group and 55.8% in the placebo group. “The groups were similar with regard to the decrease over time in the proportion of patients with total symptoms and health-related quality of life,” the researchers wrote.

“Our study results indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of corticosteroids seems to be of no benefit in the broad population of patients with clinically diagnosed acute rhinosinusitis,” the researchers added.