Evaluation of nasal symptoms and mucociliary function in patients with allergic rhinitis treated with chemosurgery using trichloroacetic acid.
OBJECTIVE
We treated allergic rhinitis with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) applied to the inferior turbinates. Further clinical evaluations were made to determine the effect of TCA application on symptoms of allergic rhinitis. We also report the results of measurement of the mucociliary transit time (saccharin time) and nasal airway resistance.


METHODS
A group of 54 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis was treated with 80% TCA applied to the inferior turbinate. Further clinical evaluations were made to determine the effect of TCA application on symptom scores of allergic rhinitis. We also report the results of measurement of the mucociliary transit time (saccharin time) and nasal airway resistance in those cases.


RESULTS
The most common complaint, nasal obstruction, improved effectively in 82% of cases, watery rhinorrhea in 86%, and sneezing in 86%, 1 year after treatment. A significant decrease in scoring was noted for subjective nasal obstruction, watery rhinorrhea, and sneezing. Nasal airway resistance was effectively reduced 1 year after treatment, and the difference was statically significant. In our study, saccharin time appeared to be shortened in the early and late periods after the TCA application. There was a statistical difference between the before- and after-treatment groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that TCA treatment was quite effective for controlling nasal allergic symptoms and that it does not damage the mucociliary function.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. e_unsal@yahoo.com
Evrim E
EE
Unsal Tuna
Cem
C
Ozbek
Can
C
Koç
Cafer
C
Ozdem
D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002424:Caustics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D012912:Sneezing; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D002424:Caustics; D014238:Trichloroacetic Acid