[Pharmacomodulation of hypersensitivity rhinitis].
BACKGROUND
Hypersensitive rhinitis is characterized by accumulation of mast cells and eosinophils (believed to be primary effector cells) in the nasal epithelium. Treatment of hypersensitive rhinitis is directed towards reducing either tissue accumulation of these activated cells or the end-organ effects of the released mediators. The aim of this study was to examine effects of local corticosteroid treatment on the number of eosinophils in nasal secretion of patients with isolated hypersensitive rhinitis.


METHODS
A total of 55 subjects were included in a prospective controlled trial. Thirty-seven patients with hypersensitive rhinitis were included in the experimental group, and 18 patients with hypersensitive rhinitis in the control group. A local corticosteroid, beclomethasone dipropionate, aqueous nasal spray, was administrated every 12 hours (400 micrograms per day) to the experimental group during 6 weeks. Patients of both groups were regularly controlled during the study period by ENT and cytological examination of nasal secretions.


CONCLUSIONS
Very significant differences in regard to the number of eosinophils were found in the nasal secretion of experimental patients with hypersensitive rhinitis, whereas they were insignificant in patients from the control group. Strong antieosinophilic effect of beclomethasone was evident. Eosinophil apoptosis at the inflammatory site appeared to be delayed when interleukin-5 was generated by neighbouring cells, or this delay is due to autocrine production of this cytokine.


CONCLUSIONS
Local corticosteroid treatment of hypersensitive form of chronic rhinitis significantly reduces the number of eosinophils and thus probably modulates the pathogenesis of this inflammatory process.
Ursulović
D
D
Institut za medicinu rada, Klinicki centar Srbije, 11000 Beograd, Deligradska 29. 08otits@infosky.net
Janosević
L
L
Janosević
S
S
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D001507:Beclomethasone