title: Effect of the KTP laser in inferior turbinate surgery on eosinophil influx in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) are first-line medications for moderate to severe allergic rhinitis (AR). Patients who have had nasal congestion for many years often develop inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy. Some patients are refractory to INCS yet decline to receive allergen-specific immunotherapy. IT reduction is then indicated. There have been very few studies evaluating the allergic biomarker changes after IT reduction in AR. This study aimed to determine the effect of potassium titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser IT surgery on eosinophil influx after challenge with dust mites.
  
  
  METHODS
  A randomized prospective controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary academic rhinology clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five house dust mite AR patients were randomly assigned to receive either INCS or KTP laser IT surgery. On the first visit, 2 nasal lavages prior to and 6 hours after challenge with Dermatophagiodes pteronyssinus were performed before receiving treatment. On the second visit, 3 months after treatment, the same procedures were repeated. No antiallergic medications were allowed for 2 weeks before each visit. Net changes in eosinophil numbers in the lavages were compared at baseline and 3 months after treatment and between the 2 treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment with KTP laser IT surgery resulted in a significant reduction in eosinophil influx after nasal challenge (P = .013), whereas such a reduction was not shown in the control. However, the net changes in the percentage of eosinophils were not different between the 2 groups at either visit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KTP laser IT surgery reduces eosinophil influx after nasal challenge in perennial AR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. supinda.ent@gmail.com
authors.forename: Supinda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chusakul
authors.forename: Thitima
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Choktaweekarn
authors.forename: Kornkiat
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Snidvongs
authors.forename: Chuntima
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Phannaso
authors.forename: Songklot
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aeumjaturapat
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D053844:Lasers, Solid-State / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D039981:Pyroglyphidae / Q000276:immunology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000276:immunology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014420:Turbinates / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult