The effect of systemic steroid administration on intraocular pressure (IOP) is well established. However, less attention has been paid to the effect of steroids when administered in a nasal spray. We conducted a study to investigate a possible association between nasal steroids and elevated IOP in 54 patients who were being treated for allergic rhinitis. IOP was measured before the patients started therapy and thereafter every 5 days during that therapy. Follow-up ranged from 27 to 35 days (mean: 31). Statistical analysis revealed no significant elevation in IOP after nasal steroid administration. It seems that short-term administration of nasal steroids does not cause significant IOP elevation. Nevertheless, their long-term effects on this pressure should be investigated.

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BackgroundThe study was designed to investigate the effect of heart rate and pacing mode on QRS fragmentation (f‐QRS). Moreover, the usefulness of f‐QRS in distinguishing patients with impaired left ventricular ejection function (EF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) from patients with normal EF was assessed.MethodsThree hundred and six recipients, with dual‐chamber device, with intrinsic narrow or wide QRS complex and preserved atrioventricular conduction were grouped into normal‐EF or impaired‐EF VT. We analyzed intrinsic narrow f‐QRS and wide f‐QRS as well as ventricular‐paced f‐QRS following different heart rates (baseline, 100 bpm) and pacing modes.ResultsIn the baseline state, overall, patients with impaired‐EF VT (35 ± 9%), compared to those with normal‐EF, had more f‐QRS (56% vs 27%, P < .001) and ventricular‐paced f‐QRS (62% vs 16%, P < .0001). Ventricular pacing conferred both at baseline and at higher heart rate more ventricular‐paced f‐QRS in patients with impaired‐EF VT than in normal‐EF (P < .001). Detection of ventricular‐paced f‐QRS markedly improved overall specificity (84%) and positive predictive value (91%) in identifying patients with impaired‐EF VT.ConclusionsIncreased heart rate or/and ventricular pacing uncover QRS fragmentations. Detection of ventricular‐paced f‐QRS adds value toward noninvasive identification of patients with impaired‐EF VT.