title: Nasal flow, volumes, and minimal cross sectional areas in asthmatics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Unified Airways hypothesis suggests an involvement of the upper airways in asthma. Critical parameters of the nasal airway can be quantified objectively with acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate nasal airway patency in asthmatics compared to non-asthmatic controls. Nasal volume, cross sectional area and flow were measured using acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) in 87 asthmatics and 93 non-asthmatic controls before and after decongestion with xylometazoline. Nasal congestion index (NCI) was calculated, and allergy status was assessed by skin prick test or specific IgE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found significantly smaller minimum cross sectional area and nasal cavity volume in asthmatics than controls, and the cross sectional area is at its minimum at 2-3 cm from the nasal orifice in both groups. AR and PNIF measurements are not different in allergic and non allergic subjects in either group. The effect of xylometazoline is not significantly different between the 2 groups with regard to AR, but there is a significant improvement in PNIF for the asthmatics when assessed by the NCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study demonstrates a significantly smaller nasal airway when assessed by minimum cross sectional area and nasal cavity volume in asthmatics than controls, and these findings apply to asthmatics and controls irrespective of allergy status.
authors: Dept of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St Olavs Hospital, University Hospital of Trondheim, 7006 Trondheim, Norway; Institute of Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7006 Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: wenche.m.thorstensen@ntnu.no.
authors: Wenche Moe
authors: WM
authors: Thorstensen
authors: Malcolm
authors: M
authors: Sue-Chu
authors: Vegard
authors: V
authors: Bugten
authors: Sverre Karmhus
authors: SK
authors: Steinsvåg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D001239:Inhalation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000494:pharmacology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D014663:Nasal Decongestants; C009695:xylometazoline
keywords: Acoustic rhinometry; Allergy; Asthma; Peak nasal inspiratory flow; Rhinitis; Sinusitis