Effect of montelukast on quality of life in subjects with nasal polyposis accompanying bronchial asthma

Abstract

Objectives: In this study we investigated the effect of adding montelukast to the treatment of nasal polyposis patients with bronchial asthma on quality of life.

Patients and methods: Thirty consecutive subjects with nasal polyposis accompanying bronchial asthma treated in our clinic were prospectively evaluated. Subjects with aspirin hypersensitivity and seasonal allergic rhinitis were excluded. Patients were evaluated using the Turkish version of rhinosinusitis disability index (RSDI) and visual analog scores before the montelukast therapy, one and three months after the therapy started. It must be noted that in addition to being treated with anti-leukotriene therapy, all of these subjects continued to receive routine nasal steroid treatment. In all subjects paranasal sinus tomography scans were obtained during the study. Lund-Mackay staging system, which is a radiological scoring system, was used in the staging of the disease severity.

Results: Rhinosinusitis disability index scores improved during the study period. Functional, emotional and physical sub-scales of RSDI were compared separately. But 1st and 3rd month scores are not statistically significant when compared with scores previous to montelukast therapy (p>0.05). Visual analog scale also showed a statistically significant decrease during the study period (p<0.01). Lund-Mackay staging did not show a statistically significant difference during the study period (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study showed that montelukast therapy might have a clinical benefit as an adjunct to nasal steroids in subjects with nasal polyposis accompanying bronchial asthma.