통년성 알레르기 비염환자에 대한 비유발검사 후 음향비강통기도 검사지표의 변화

Background and Objectives: To investigate the mechanism of symptomatic development in early and late phases of allergic inflammation, we evaluated the recruitment of inflammatory cells including eosinophils in the nasal lavage fluid and observed the relationship between subjective nasal symptoms and objective acoustic rhinometry measurements. Materials and Methods: Thirteen patients with a positive nasal provocation test (NPT) with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and ten asymptomatic subjects who had a negative NPT were enrolled. Nasal lavage fluids were collected, and nasal symptom scores and the measurements of acoustic rhinometry were recorded before the NPT and at 10, 30, and 60 min and 3, 6, and 24 h after testing. Results: Significant differences of eosinophil count were noted between the two groups for all lavage samples collected. The sneezing and rhinorrhea score was significantly increased in the positive group at 10 min and 30 min after NPT. The symptom score for nasal obstruction in the positive group tended to increase at 1 and 3 h. Minimal crosssectional area (MCA) was markedly reduced in the positive group at 30 min, 1 h, and 3 h, although only the difference at 30 min was significant. Conclusion: MCA was the most reliable measurement reflecting the symptomatic changes and the recruitment of eosinophils after NPT. Eosinophil acts as the major effector cell in both early and late phase responses in patients with perennial AR. (J Clinical Otolaryngol 2007;18:178–183)