Mechanism of Action of Fluticasone Furoate in Childhood Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The purpose of this research is to find out how a nasal spray (fluticasone furoate), sometimes given to children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), works on certain cells within a child's adenoids. We hypothesize that intranasal steroids lead to an upregulation of T regulatory cells in the adenoid tissues of children with OSAS. This will result in a local reduction in inflammation and edema explaining the improvement in OSAS.

The objective was to determine the effect of intranasal corticosteroid therapy on T-regulatory cells and other inflammatory cytokines in adenoid tissues in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.Children were randomized to either no treatment or treatment with fluticasone furoate nasal spray, 55 μg/nostril daily, for 2 weeks before adenotonsillectomy. Adenoid tissue was obtained at the time of the procedure.