title: Nasal obstruction and smell impairment in nasal polyp disease: correlation between objective and subjective parameters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (NP) represents an invalidating disorder that causes mainly nasal blockage and loss of smell. The aim of this study is to investigate correlations between individual subjective and objective parameters of stable NP disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  65 NP patients scored their sinonasal symptoms on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and questionnaires (SNOT-22 and SF-36). Peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurement, Sniffinatm Sticks (SS) smell test, blood analysis for eosinophilia, total IgE and culture for Staphylococcus aureus (SA) were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VAS scores for nasal blockage correlated with the SNOT-22 and SF-36 scores, which was not observed for VAS of other symptoms. VAS scores for nasal blockage correlated well with PNIF values as well as VAS scores for smell dysfunction and SS results (both p<0.001). NP size correlated with VAS scores for nasal blockage (p<0.01) but not with VAS for other symptoms. NP size showed an inverse correlation with PNIF and SS scores (both p<0.05). Blood eosinophilia correlated with subjective smell reduction (p<0.05). The presence of SA or total IgE levels were not associated with symptoms of NP disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PNIF and SS are good tools to evaluate symptoms of nasal obstruction and smell reduction in NP disease. Nasal blockage is the only symptom that correlates well with NP size and SNOT-22 scores, whereas smell reduction correlates with blood eosinophilia.
authors: Laboratory of Experimental Immunology, University Hospitals Leuven, Catholic University of Leuven , Leuven, Belgium.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Hox
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bobic
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Callebaux
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jorissen
authors: P W
authors: PW
authors: Hellings
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents