Analysis of the impact of bronchial asthma and hypersensitivity to aspirin on the clinical course of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a disease with still not enough known pathogenesis despite the development of genetics, immunological and microbiological research. The number of patients with CRS has been constantly growing. The coexistence of CRS, bronchial asthma and aspirin intolerance (aspirin triad) is an adverse prognostic factor with higher risk of recurrences. The aim of study was to compare the severity of CRSwNP depending of coexistence of bronchial asthma and/or aspirin intolerance. The research was performed in the group of 204 patients operated 2009-2013 with 5 years follow-up. Higher nasal polyps growth in groups of patients with aspirin triad and CRSwNP and bronchial asthma in endoscopic examination (p=0,0005 and p=0,0030 respectively) and CT-scan according to Lund-Mackay point scale (p<0,0001 and p=0,0009) was showed. Also, these patients presented increased severity of nasal symptoms before surgical treatment according to VAS scale (p=0,0126 for CRSwNP with bronchial asthma; p=0,0390 for aspirin triad). Similarly, 6 months after surgery the same groups of patients presented higher severity of the disease symptoms (p<0,0001 for aspirin triad' patients; p=0,0174 for CRSwNP and bronchial asthma' patients) . Patients with aspirin triad had also statistically more surgeries in past (p=0,001), what proves that recurrences in this group are very likely to be observed in spite of the use of proper conservative treatment. No such differences have been shown in the group of patients with CRSwNP and isolated aspirin intolerance (without bronchial asthma). Allergy to inhaled allergens, hypersensitivity to aspirin are factors significantly worsening the course of CRSwNP. It would be advisable to consider, despite a lack of history of aspirin intolerance, a hypersensititvity to aspirin test in patients with particularly severe CRSwNP, especially those associated with bronchial asthma. It also seems reasonable to carry out such a test on every patient with newly diagnosed CRSwNP and bronchial asthma in order to be able to plan further treatment in this group of patients accordingly including biological treatment with antimonoclonal therapy against interleukin 4, 5 or13.

Keywords: bronchial asthma; chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps; clinical course; hypersensitivity to aspirin; treatment.