title: Comparison of decongestive capacity of xylometazoline and pseudoephedrine with rhinomanometry and MRI.
abstract: Topical and systemic sympathicomimetics have been used for many years as a treatment of nasal congestion in diseases such as coryza and sinusitis. The aim of this study was to perform an objective measurement of the decongestive capacity of topical xylometazoline and oral pseudoephedrine in normal subjects and patients with chronic sinusitis. Ten healthy subjects and 10 patients with chronic sinusitis were included in this study. Xylometazoline (0.1%) and pseudoephedrine (120 mg) were each administered to 5 healthy subjects and to 5 patients with chronic sinusitis. Decongestion was measured with active anterior rhinomanometry before, 15 minutes, 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 hours after administration. Before and about 90 minutes after drug administration a MRI was performed to visualize the decongestive effect on the turbinates and the mucosa of the sinuses. Xylometazoline reduces the nasal airway resistance for an average 37.3% in all patients and healthy subjects during 8 hours. Pseudoephedrine does not show a clear and long lasting decongestive effect on the turbinates. Important interindividual differences are also noted. MRI clearly shows a clear cut superiority of xylometazoline over pseudoephedrine concerning decongestion of the nasal mucosa. However, there was no decongestive effect whatsoever on the mucosa of the sinuses with either sympathicomimetic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caenen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamels
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Deron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Clement
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D004809:Ephedrine; C009695:xylometazoline