title: Olfaction in chronic rhinosinusitis: comparing two different endonasal steroid application methods.
abstract: Limited olfactory improvement after topical steroid therapy in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients might result from restricted drug access to the olfactory cleft. The aim of our study was to investigate the difference between two methods to topically administer steroids with respect to olfaction: (1) conventional nasal spray and (2) a device using pressure and vibration to distribute steroid aerosol endonasally. A prospective study was performed in patients with olfactory impairment due to chronic rhinosinusitis with and without nasal polyps. While the first group used the conventional dexamethasone nasal spray, the second group used the device over a period of 12 days. Olfactory testing was done at 0, 2, and 8 weeks using Sniffin' Sticks test. A significant olfactory improvement was found after 2 weeks of treatment with either steroid (p = 0.005). However, there was no significant difference between the different methods of steroid application. There is a significant olfactory improvement in CRS patients following topical dexamethasone therapy, but no obvious superiority of one of the two ways to administer the steroid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Sophia C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Poletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Islam
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Batashev
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Reden
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Smell and Taste Clinic, TU Dresden, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany. thummel@mail.zih.tu-dresden.de.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hummel
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000150:complications; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014732:Vibration
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D059085:Nasal Sprays; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Conventional nasal spray; Nasal cavity; Nose; Olfactory mucosa; Pressure-pulsed nasal inhalation; Sinusitis; Therapy