Re: Treating Asthma and Comorbid Allergic Rhinitis in Pregnancy

To the Editor: I have read with great interest the article by Yawn et al¹ entitled “Treating Asthma and Comorbid Allergic Rhinitis in Pregnancy” in the May issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine. They emphasized that nasal corticosteroids (budesonide), oral and nasal decongestants, and saline and oral or nasal antihistamines can be use for treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) during pregnancy. However, no medications for the management of asthma or AR have been rated Pregnancy Category A; some drugs used to treat asthma or AR are rated Pregnancy Category B (such as budesonide).¹

In their article¹ they did not emphasize the role of cellulose powder extract spray (Nasaleze spray, Kisska International Ltd, Keighley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom) in AR treatment. Limited data exist about Nasaleze nasal spray and AR,^2–5 but this is a pure and safe plant-based extract that causes no known side effects.^2–5 This spray can be use in pregnant and breastfeeding women, children, and adults with AR. It may be used more commonly in the future once successful clinical studies have been performed.