Abstract:

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether nasal and oral exhaled levels of nitric oxide are increased in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and the effect of topical use of steroids on levels of nitric oxide in nasal and oral exhale. Methods We measured the concentration of NO in the exhale from the nose and mouth of 28 patients with seasonal rhinitis who had not received any treatment for at least 4 weeks. All of them were then treated with Budesonide Nasal Spray(512 μg, QD) for 14 days. Measurements were performed before and after the 14 days of treatment. As a control group we evaluated 80 healthy adults. To measure NO we used a chemiluminescence analysis. Results Before and after treatment patients with allergic rhinitis showed a mean nasal and oral exhale NO concentration significantly higher than that of the control group. After 14 days of therapy, a significant decrease of nasal NO concentration, but no significant change of oral NO concentration were observed. Conclusion Intranasal steroid therapy significantly reduces nasal NO production in patients with allergic rhinitis and exhaled nitric oxide may be a useful marker for nasal and oral inflammation in patients with seasonal rhinitis.

Key words: allergic rhinitis, nitric oxide, topical steroids