Fluticasone proprionate is a glucocorticoid often prescribed as treatment for asthma and allergic rhinitis.

The precise mechanisms of glucocorticoid action in asthma are unknown. Inflammation is recognized as an important component in the pathogenesis of asthma. Glucocorticoids have been shown to inhibit multiple cell types (e.g., mast cells, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils) and mediator production or secretion (e.g., histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines) involved in the asthmatic response. These anti-inflammatory actions of glucocorticoids may contribute to their efficacy in asthma. Typically, however, the action on the cells affected requires several days. Therefore, inhaled steroids are not used for immediate relief of asthma, but instead as preventive therapy and maintenance therapy.

Clinical trials

This listing is NOT complete and should NOT be construed as support for treatment decisions. See also PubMed clinical manuscripts referring to fluticasone

• Burge, P.S.; Calverley, P.M.; Jones, P.W.; Spencer, S.; Anderson, J.A.; and Maslen T.K. (2000). Randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study of fluticasone propionate in patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the ISOLDE trial. British Medical Journal 320 (7245), 1297-1303. PMID 10807619.
• Paggiaro, P.L.; Dahle, R.; Bakran, I.; Frith, L.; Hollingworth, K.; and Efthimiou, J. (1998). Multicentre randomised placebo-controlled trial of inhaled fluticasone propionate in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The Lancet 351 (9105), 773-780. PMID 9519948.

both support a positive outcome for use of fluticasone in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also referred to as COPD