[Age distribution of transepithelial water loss in human nasal mucosa].
BACKGROUND
Dry nose is a common complaint in the elderly. Age distribution of transepithelial water loss of human nasal mucosa (TEWL) value was evaluated in this study.


METHODS
Eighty-eight volunteers (50 men and 30 women) ranging from 10 to 75 years old were recruited for this study. Measurement of TEWL was performed on the inferior nasal turbinate. TEWL was measured with an evaporation meter applying Fick's law (Tewameter TM 300; Courage and Khazaka, Cologne, Germany).


RESULTS
TEWL value tends to increase in order of age, indicating that the barrier function of epithelium may decline with age.


CONCLUSIONS
The measurement of transepithelial water loss should be contributed to assess the efficiency of nasal mucosal barrier disorders in the elderly.
Miwa
Masato
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo Medical University. masato@dokkyomed.ac.jp
Nakajima
Noriyuki
N
Hirose
Takashi
T
Iwasaki
Yoko
Y
Murakami
Atsushi
A
Matsunaga
Mayumi
M
Watanabe
Kensuke
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000378:metabolism; D014870:Water Loss, Insensible / Q000502:physiology*