EC25F-407: Prospective evaluation of intranasal fluticasone for feline lymphoplasmacytic rhinitis

Many cats suffer from persistent sneezing and nasal discharge (chronic rhinitis or rhinosinusitis). In fact, about one-third of all chronic nasal cases in cats fall into this category – second only to nasal cancer. We still don’t know the exact cause, but past viral or bacterial infections, allergies, or an over-active immune system may all play a part. Because there is no single proven treatment, cats can stay congested for months and their owners often feel helpless.
This study will evaluate the effect of putting small amounts of anti-inflammatory drops directly into a cat’s nose. First step (Tier 1): cats are randomly selected to receive either fluticasone nose drops (treatment group) or plain saline drops (control group). Second step (Tier 2): if a cat doesn’t improve after fluticasone drops, it can be switched to a different anti-inflammatory drop made with prednisolone. To measure progress, we’ll use an easy questionnaire called SNIFLD-C. It scores sneezing, nasal discharge, breathing noise, and other everyday signs that owners can spot at home. The aim of this study is to evaluate if intranasal fluticasone or prednisolone will improve each cat’s SNIFLD-C score by 50% in about 90% of the cats we treat. (George Sydney and Phyllis Redmond Miller Trust Grant Awards)