Angiogenesis in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and in antrochoanal polyps.
OBJECTIVE
Angiogenesis may be related to the pathogenesis and prognosis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. This cross-sectional study, in a tertiary university hospital, evaluates angiogenesis parameters in nasal polyps, antrochoanal polyps and middle turbinates.


METHODS
Nasal polyps obtained from 24 consecutive patients, were compared to 10 normal middle turbinates and to 11 antrochoanal polyps.


METHODS
Analyzing for the expression of the angiogenic marker CD34 by immunohistochemistry. Blood vessels count, vascular surface density and microvessel density were measured by manual and computerized methods.


RESULTS
Angiogenesis was significantly higher in nasal polyps compared to control turbinates and to antrochoanal polyps (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.007, respectively). Antrochoanal polyps showed significantly more angiogenesis than normal middle turbinates (p = 0.001). Angiogenesis was not elevated in sub-groups of nasal polyposis patients considered to have worse prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Angiogenesis probably plays a role in the pathogenesis of both nasal polyposis and antrochoanal polyps. However, the significantly higher angiogenesis found in nasal polyps compared to antrochoanal polyps may support a different mechanism of growth. The lack of difference between angiogenesis and nasal polyposis patients sub-groups, may imply that angiogenesis is not associated with the prognosis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis.
Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Hadassah Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, 91120, Israel. drnir@hadassah.org.il
Nir
N
Hirshoren
Tzahi
T
Neuman
Menachem
M
Gross
Ron
R
Eliashar
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D014420:Turbinates / Q000473:pathology*