Nasal and Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Chronic Sinusitis with Polyp

Objective Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be an important mediator and inflammatory marker of airway. The purpose of this study is to analyze the distribution of nasal NO (nNO) and exhaled NO (eNO) in chronic sinusitis (CRS) with polyp and to predict clinical features of CRS with polyp by NO, which is easy to measure. Method We used chemiluminescent analyzer to measure nNO and eNO between healthy individuals (32) and CRS with polyp patients (30), CRS with polyp and allergic rhinitis and compared it with a variety of clinical features of chronic sinusitis like sinus CT and symptoms. Results The nNO were significantly lower in CRS with polyp (88.5 ± 54.7 ppb) compared with controls (241.0 ± 89.5 ppb), CRS with polyp and allergic rhinitis (167.0 ± 47.6 ppb) (pp < 0.009) with a positive relationship with the extent of sinus disease, and it was different from nNO. Conclusion The nasal NO could be used to predict CRS with polyp, which eventually has to be treated with surgery. The upper airway disease could affect the lower airway inflammation, and it reflects, “One airway, one disease.”