Dysautonomia rhinitis: associated otolaryngologic manifestations and characterization based on autonomic function tests.
CONCLUSIONS
Dysautonomia is a multisystem disorder. Beside the nasal symptoms, some otolaryngological disorders may be explained on the basis of autonomic dysfunction. Testing of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) complements the clinical findings and provides objective measurements to substantiate the presence of ANS dysfunction. The term dysautonomia rhinitis may be used to specify this autonomic-related rhinitis.


OBJECTIVE
Nonallergic, noninfectious perennial rhinitis is a heterogeneous disorder comprising several pathophysiological entities. This study was designed to objectively investigate the relation of idiopathic perennial rhinitis to ANS dysfunction.


METHODS
This was a prospective controlled clinical study; 78 patients, carefully diagnosed as having idiopathic perennial rhinitis, were enrolled. Workshop protocol included diagnostic measures for exclusion of other causes of rhinitis and autonomic function assessment at a clinical cardiology laboratory. Results were compared with those of 20 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects.


RESULTS
In addition to their nasal symptoms, all patients reported more than one regional and multisystem complaint. Each patient had at least one autonomic function test that displayed a hypervagal response and the overall response score was as follows: 46 (59%) had hypervagal response, 32 (41%) had mixed response and none had a normal or hyperadrenergic response.
Elsheikh
Mohamed Nasser
MN
Otolaryngology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. mnel_sheikh@hotmail.Com
Badran
Hala Mahfouz
HM
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology