Anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy is associated with certain subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis.
BACKGROUND
Chronic rhinosinusitis has many risk factors; however, the effect of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy has not been investigated in depth. Our experience points to a detrimental clinical effect in overall prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis, despite its benefit in certain subtypes.


METHODS
A telephone survey was performed to parallel the findings of the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network chronic rhinosinusitis screening survey. This was itself based on the widely recognised European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps criteria.


RESULTS
A total of 120 patients responded to the survey. The prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in the anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy population was 20 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval = 12.84-27.16). When compared using a chi-square test, for a two-by-two contingency table, this finding was significant against the prevalence recorded in the normal population.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first observational study indicating increased prevalence of chronic rhinosinusitis in patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy. These clinical findings require investigation in greater depth to clarify the nature of pathologies currently diagnosed and treated as chronic rhinosinusitis.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
C G
CG
Leonard
Department of Rheumatology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
C
C
Masih
Department of Rheumatology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
S
S
McDonald
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
G
G
Taylor
Department of Rheumatology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
N
N
Maiden
Department of Otorhinolaryngology,Craigavon Area Hospital,Northern Ireland,UK.
P J
PJ
Leyden
D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Allergic; Ankylosing Spondylitis; Nonseasonal; Paranasal Sinus Disease; Paranasal Sinuses; Rheumatoid Arthritis; Rhinitis