The role of free radicals in chronic rhinosinusitis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is an increased amount of free radical-mediated damage in diseased vs healthy tissue from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.


METHODS
Pathophysiologic study. Samples of heathly and diseased tissue were taken from each patient. Lipid peroxides (LPOs) are a by-product of free radical-mediated damage; LPO levels and LPO/protein ratios were determined for each patient.


METHODS
Consecutive series of 13 human subjects undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery to treat chronic rhinosinusitis.


RESULTS
The mean LPO/protein ratio for healthy tissue was 3.52 x 10(-5), while that for the diseased tissue was 3.49 x 10(-5). There was no statistically significant difference in the LPO/protein ratio between healthy and diseased tissue (95% confidence interval, -3.00 x 10(-5) to 2.94 x 10(-5)).


CONCLUSIONS
Free radical-induced damage, if present, was the same in infected and control tissues in this pilot investigation into the pathophysiologic characteristics of human chronic rhinosinusitis.
Friedman
Aaron D
AD
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, New York Presbyterian Hospital and College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, USA.
Shah
Jay B
JB
Takoudes
Thomas G
TG
Haddad
Joseph
J
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000737:chemistry / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery
D005609:Free Radicals; D008054:Lipid Peroxides