Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, September 20-24, 1994, San Diego, Calif

In a randomized parallel group study of 50 patients, Rodney Caniglia, MD , and colleagues, Columbia, Mo, studied the effect of aqueous beclomethasone dipropionate on five symptoms, nasal cytology, and anterior rhino-manometry in skin-test—proven allergic rhinitis. The two cohorts differed in whether instruction in the use of the inhaler was provided by physicians. Those who were instructed had significant improvement in all seven parameters, while those not instructed had no improvement in three symptoms and nasal airflow. In three complementing studies of patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, F. M. Baroody, MD, Martin Desrosiers, MD , and coauthors, Baltimore, Md, demonstrated dose-related response to three levels of ragweed and grass allergens as measured by symptom scores, and allergy mediators recovered, with no difference in those preconditioned to cold-dry, normal, or hot-humid air. However, the patients preexposed to hot humid air (37°C and 90% relative humidity) showed significant reductions in indicators for vascular permeability