title: Aspirin desensitization for ASA triad patients--prospective study of the rhinologist`s perspective.
abstract: OBJECTIVES/PROBLEM: To determine the sinonasal effect of aspirin salicylic acid (ASA) desensitization in patients with nasal polyps, asthma and aspirin intolerance (ASA triad).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with ASA triad were recruited from the outpatient otolaryngology clinic. They underwent a program of ASA desensitization (2005 - 2008) with prospective assessment of subjective and objective responses. Incremental doses of aspirin were given to reach a target of 625 mg twice daily during a period of 3 - 5 days. A maintenance dose was then given for the study period. The patients also received inhaled and topical nasal steroids, antihistamines and beta agonists for asthma control, but no systemic steroid treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the original 27 enrolled subjects, 10 elected to discontinue treatment and five dropped out because of treatment complications. The objective evaluation of the polypoid sinonasal disease in the remaining 12 patients (4 males, 8 females, age range 22 - 63 years) revealed only mild improvement. In contrast, the patients` subjective feeling of nasal congestion, nasal discharge and overall discomfort improved significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aspirin desensitization has a favorable subjective effect on certain nasal symptoms among ASA triad patients, but the objective effect on polypoid mass is not significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Barzilai Medical Center, Ben Gurion University, Ashkelon, Israel. boazforer@gmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Forer
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kivity
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sade
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Landsberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000276:immunology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000276:immunology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D001241:Aspirin