title: Effectiveness of itraconazole on clinical symptoms and radiologic findings in patients with recurrent chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was done to evaluate the effect of itraconazole on clinical symptoms and radiologic findings in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis after surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a clinical trial which was conducted in Alzahra and Kashani hospitals, from November 2011 to December 2012, 22 patients with recurrent postsurgical chronic sinusitis and polyposis entered the study. At the start of the study demographic data, subjective clinical symptoms (severity of rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, hyposmia, and dyspnea), quality of life (QoL) by sinonasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20), serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), and score of computed tomography (CT) scan (by Lund-Mackay) were recorded. Itraconazole (100 mg, twice per day) prescribed for 3 months and patients were followed in the 1(st), 3(rd), and 6(th) months. Liver enzyme tests and side effects were evaluated monthly.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Severity of rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, hyposmia, dyspnea, and QoL (by SNOT-20) improved during 3 months of treatment. Serum IgE was 265 (±277) at the start of the study, and decrease to 193 (±183) after 3 month. After 3 month, Lund-Mackay score of CT scan lowered from 19 (±4) to 15 (±6) (P < 0.05). At the 6(th) month, severity of clinical symptoms except dyspnea and QoL were better than first evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed the beneficial effect of 3-month itraconazole treatment on clinical symptoms and radiologic findings and QoL in patients with recurrent postsurgical chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kashani Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kashani Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Akram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fereidani
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kashani Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nezamoddin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berjis
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kashani Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Sayyed Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Okhovat
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kashani Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Afrooz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eshaghain
keywords: Chronic rhinosinusitis; itraconazole; nasal polyposis