Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Jun;130(6):1372-1376.
doi: 10.1002/lary.28226. Epub 2019 Aug 6.

Correlation Between Peak Nasal Flow Reversibility and Mucociliary Clearance in Allergic Rhinitis

Virat Kirtsreesakul  1 , Jitanong Leelapong  1 , Suwalee Ruttanaphol  1
Affiliations

Correlation Between Peak Nasal Flow Reversibility and Mucociliary Clearance in Allergic Rhinitis

Virat Kirtsreesakul et al. Laryngoscope. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Objectives/hypothesis: Reversibility of nasal airflow after decongestion measured by rhinomanometry is associated with the severity of allergic inflammation. Peak nasal flow is a simpler alternative method for assessing nasal patency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between changes in peak nasal expiratory and inspiratory flows (PNEFs and PNIFs) after decongestion and nasal mucociliary clearance times (NMCCTs).

Study design: Single-center, prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods: One hundred one allergic rhinitis patients were enrolled. Nasal symptoms and NMCCTs were assessed. PNEF and PNIF were performed before and after decongestion. Correlations between changes in PNEF and PNIF after decongestion and NMCCTs were analyzed. One-half the standard deviation of baseline peak nasal flows was used to estimate the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs) and discriminate between patients with reversible mucosa and with irreversible mucosa.

Results: PNEF showed more peak flow improvements after decongestion compared to PNIF. Changes in PNEF had better negative correlations with NMCCTs than PNIF (ρ = -0.49, P < .001 and ρ = -0.34, P < .001, respectively). The MCID values of the PNEF and PNIF were 27.93 and 19.74, respectively. In comparisons of NMCCTs between patients with or without MCID of peak nasal flow after decongestion, PNEF had better discrimination ability compared to PNIF (P = .003 and P = .026, respectively).

Conclusions: The limitation of reversibility as measured by peak nasal flows could indirectly point to the affection of mucosal inflammation as indicated by NMCCTs. PNEF is more sensitive to assess peak flow changes after decongestion than PNIF.

Level of evidence: 2 Laryngoscope, 130:1372-1376, 2020.

Keywords: Allergic rhinitis; decongestion test; nasal mucociliary clearance time; peak nasal flow; reversibility.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

References

BIBLIOGRAPHY

    1. Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA, et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen). Allergy 2008;63(suppl 6):S8-S160.
    1. Bunnag C, Jareoncharsri P, Tantilipikorn P, et al. Epidemiology and current status of allergic rhinitis and asthma in Thailand-ARIA Asia-Pacific Workshop report. Asian Pac J Allergy Immunol 2009;27:79-86.
    1. Bousquet J, Lund VJ, Van Cauwenberge P, et al. Implementation of guidelines for seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized controlled trial. Allergy 2003;58:733-741.
    1. Corey JP, Houser SM, Ng BA. Nasal congestion: a review of its etiology, evaluation, and treatment. Ear Nose Throat J 2000;79:690-701.
    1. Naclerio RM, Bachert C, Baraniuk JN. Pathophysiology of nasal congestion. Int J Gen Med 2010;3:47-57.

Publication types

Substances

LinkOut - more resources