title: Measurement of mycotoxins in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.
abstract: Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by a variety of fungi including Aspergillus, Alternaria, and Penicillium species. The presence of mycotoxins in sinonasal tissue and secretions and any possible link to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) or other diseases of the head and neck have not been reported. The authors performed an exploratory study to determine the presence and levels of mycotoxins in the sinonasal tissue and secretions of 18 subjects undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS. Using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits, samples were analyzed for the following mycotoxins: aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, ochratoxin, and fumonisin. All specimens were negative for aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisin. Four (22%) of 18 specimens were positive for ochratoxin. The clinical significance of this finding remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology, New York, New York 10016, USA.
authors.forename: Seth M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lieberman
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Lebowitz
authors.forename: Matthew B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Bernard A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Feigenbaum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000528:Alternaria / Q000378:metabolism; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000378:metabolism; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D010407:Penicillium / Q000378:metabolism; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins