title: Higher dosage of HIFU treatment may lead to higher and longer efficacy for moderate to severe perennial allergic rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was to compare the efficacies and side effects of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR) with regular and increased dosage.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospectively assembled cohort was retrospectively analyzed through visual analogue scale (VAS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Regular dosage of HIFU treatment was applied to 56 PAR patients in group A. An increased dosage as twice as the regular one was applied to 48 patients in group B. Nasal obstruction, sneezing, rhinorrhea and rhinocnesmus, which were recognized as the four main symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR), were evaluated before treatment, 3 months after treatment, and 1 year after treatment. The satisfaction of patients was also evaluated at 1 year postoperatively. Biopsy of the inferior turbinate and morphometric analysis were applied to 11 patients in group A and 10 in group B before HIFU treatment and 3 months after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparing the AR symptoms before treatment, There is no statistical difference observed between group A and B (p>0.05). The four main symptoms at 3 months and 1 year after treatment were all significantly improved (p<0.01) in both group A and B. The VAS scores of AR symptoms in Group B were lower than those in Group A at the same stage after treatment, especially at 1 year after treatment (p<0.05). Comparing the results at 3 months and 1 year after treatment, a tendency of recurrence of these symptoms was observed statistically in group A (p<0.05), but not in group B (p>0.05). More cases of nasal dryness and perirhinal swelling were found in group B than those in group A (p<0.05), while all side effects were mild and temporary. Patients in group B were more satisfied than those in group A (p=0.0866 >0.05), though not statistically significant. More reduction of the eosinophils, other inflammatory cells, and the submucosal glands was observed after HIFU treatment in group B than that in group A (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A proper increment of HIFU dosage may be recommended to meet the needs of more improvement of AR symptoms and less recurrence.
authors: 1. Department of Otolaryngology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China.
authors: Hongquan
authors: H
authors: Wei
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Shi
authors: Jingru
authors: J
authors: Zhang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Xia
authors: Jian
authors: J
authors: Zang
authors: Aihui
authors: A
authors: Yan
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Li
authors: Xuejun
authors: X
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D049668:History, 15th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU); perennial allergic rhinitis (PAR); surgical treatment