Allergy

The correlation between nasal symptom and mucociliary clearance in Allergic rhinitis†

  1. Virat Kirtsreesakul MD*,
  2. Pornpanitan Somjareonwattana MD,
  3. Suwalee Ruttanaphol BNS

Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/lary.20146

Issue

The Laryngoscope

The Laryngoscope

Volume 119, Issue 8, pages 1458–1462, August 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Kirtsreesakul, V., Somjareonwattana, P. and Ruttanaphol, S. (2009), The correlation between nasal symptom and mucociliary clearance in Allergic rhinitis. The Laryngoscope, 119: 1458–1462. doi: 10.1002/lary.20146

Author Information

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand

*Division of Allergy and Rhinology, Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110, Thailand

  1. †

    Conflict of Interest: None.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 JUL 2009
  2. Article first published online: 8 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 29 SEP 2008
  4. Manuscript Received: 27 AUG 2008

Funded by

  • Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University

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Keywords:

  • Allergic rhinitis;
  • duration;
  • mucociliary clearance;
  • nasal symptom;
  • severity

Abstract

Objective/Hypothesis:

The Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification of allergic rhinitis (AR) is based on the severity and duration of nasal symptoms. Whether the nasal symptoms actually represent underlying nasal inflammation is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between nasal symptoms and nasal inflammation using mucociliary clearance time (MCCT) in AR.

Study Design:

A prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods:

73 AR patients were classified according to ARIA class: mild or moderate-severe intermittent AR (MIAR or MSIAR) and mild or moderate-severe persistent AR (MPAR or MSPAR). Each nasal symptom was scored as 1 to 3 on a severity scale (mild-moderate-severe). The sum of the individual nasal symptom scores gave the total symptoms score (TSS). MCCT was determined with the charcoal-saccharin method. MCCTs between ARIA classes were compared and correlations between TSS or days with symptoms per week (DSW) and MCCT were analyzed.

Results:

Of the patients, 67.1% were moderate-severe degree. MSPAR had the worst MCCT, followed by MSIAR, MPAR, and MIAR (mean MCCTs of 14.32, 13.87, 11.94, and 10.28 minutes, respectively). TSS was well correlated with MCCT (P = .538, P < .001). DSW was also correlated with MCCT, but did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.217, P = .065). The mean MCCT of overall nasal symptoms increased along with each score step and a significant difference was noted between scores 2 and 3 (P < .001).

Conclusions:

A high percentage of moderate-severe disease and a significant correlation of the severity and MCCTs suggest an important heterogeneity in this disease severity group. Discriminating between moderate and severe rhinitis should help to obtain homogeneous populations and develop improved disease management strategies. Laryngoscope, 2009

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