title: Prospective outcome assessment of occupational rhinitis after removal from exposure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a prospective evaluation of clinical and quality of life (QOL) outcomes of occupational rhinitis (OR) after cessation of exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed changes in nasal symptoms, disease-specific QOL, nasal patency, and nasal inflammation in 20 subjects with confirmed OR. Olfactory function was assessed cross-sectionally at follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, a significant decrease in the number of nasal symptoms and a significant improvement in QOL were observed. There were no significant differences in nasal patency outcomes. A not significant decrease in neutrophils number in nasal fluid and a significant decrease in macrophages were observed. As a group, study subjects showed a mild olfactory dysfunction at follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that cessation of exposure to causal agent improved QOL in patients with OR, leading to relief of rhinitis-associated symptoms and improvement in well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery/Otolaryngology, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. roberto.castano@umontreal.ca
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castano
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: Lucero
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Castellanos
authors.forename: Jean-Luc
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Malo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011537:Pruritus / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012903:Smell; D012912:Sneezing; D013997:Time Factors