Use of cold dry air provocation with acoustic rhinometry in detecting nonspecific nasal hyperreactivity.
BACKGROUND
Cold dry air provocation is useful for evaluating nonspecific nasal hyperreactivity. However, there is no research on nasal volume and dimensions after cold dry air provocation. In this respect, acoustic rhinometry is a useful tool in objectively assessing nasal cavity volume and dimension. The goal of this study was to evaluate nonspecific hyperreactivity using cold dry air provocation with acoustic rhinometry.


METHODS
Cold dry air provocation with acoustic rhinometry was performed on 21 healthy volunteers (group A), 24 patients with allergic rhinitis (group B), and 32 patients with nonallergic rhinitis (group C). The change in symptoms using a visual analog scale (VAS), amount of rhinorrhea, and change of total nasal volume (TNV) and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) were measured in all three groups.


RESULTS
The two patient groups showed greater change in nasal symptoms (VAS, 2.0 +/- 2.3 in group C versus 0.9 +/- 1.8 in group A), more rhinorrhea (0.4 +/- 0.7 g in group B and 0.3 +/- 0.3 g in group C versus 0.1 +/- 0.1 g in group A), and greater change in total nasal volume (TNV) and MCA. The patient group with history of nonspecific hyperreactivity showed more rhinorrhea (0.5 +/- 0.7 g versus 0.1 +/- 0.2 g) and greater change in TNV and MCA (TNV, 56.8 +/- 39.5% versus 18.0 +/- 17.0%; MCA, 86.6 +/- 81.0% versus 11.5 +/- 9.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
Cold dry air provocation with acoustic rhinometry could be a useful adjunct tool for detecting nonspecific hyperreactivity.
Kim
Young Hyo
YH
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
Oh
Yoon Suk
YS
Kim
Kyu Jin
KJ
Jang
Tae Young
TY
D000328:Adult; D000388:Air; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests / Q000379:methods; D003080:Cold Temperature / Q000009:adverse effects; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006813:Humidity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D015508:Nasal Obstruction; D012220:Rhinitis; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods