Intramuscular betamethasone dipropionate vs. topical beclomethasone dipropionate and placebo in hay fever.

A double-blind, double-dummy comparative study was made of 30 adult birch pollen-allergic outpatients with seasonal rhinoconjunctivitis. They were treated with either topically applied beclomethasone dipropionate 100 micrograms in each nostril twice daily for 4 weeks, placebo, or an injection of 2 ml of a suspension containing 5 mg betamethasone dipropionate and 2 mg betamethasone disodium phosphate per ml (Diprospan) immediately prior to the birch pollen season. Placebo- and topical steroid-treated patients experienced an increase in rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms, i.e. nasal blockage, nasal itching, rhinorrhea, sneezing and eye symptoms, and placebo-treated patients used significantly more antihistamine tablets during the pollen season. Diprospan-treated patients experienced fewer symptoms on all measured parameters. We concluded that one injection of Diprospan immediately prior to the birch pollen season produces significantly fewer rhinoconjunctivitis symptoms than does placebo and topical steroid treatment.