| Popis: |
BACKGROUND: CRS can be evaluated in a multi-modality fashion. This includes the use of clinical and radiologic assessments, and assessment of symptom severity. Validated tools for each form of assessment exist. The epithelial cells of the paranasal sinuses produce nasal nitric oxide (nNO) that plays various roles in the pathogenesis of CRS. AIMS:: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether a simple bedside measurement of nNO levels can be used to effectively monitor disease progression and symptom severity in patients with CRS. METHODS: nNO levels were measured pre-operatively in patients with CRS listed for endoscopic sinus surgery. Pre-operative Sino-nasal Outcome Test 22 (SNOT-22), Rhinosinusitis Symptom Inventory (RSI), and Lund-Mackay Computed Tomography (CT) scores were calculated. Pearson9s correlation coefficient was used to define relationships. RESULTS: 22 patients were included (13 males, 9 females). Females had higher symptoms scores (SNOT-22, RSI), Lund-Mackay scores, and nNO levels. No significant relationship was identified between nNO and any of the other variables (SNOT-22, RSI, or Lund-Mackay). There was a strong statistically significant correlation between SNOT-22 and RSI (r=0.900, p=0.000). No other statistically significant relationship was indentified between any of the other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Results do not support using nNO levels as a tool to monitor CRS disease progression or as a tool for aiding patient selection for sinus surgery. Currently, there is no clinically applicable use for nNO levels in treating CRS. Furthermore, before the RSI tool can be used as an alternative to SNOT-22, it must undergo full psychometric validation. |
