Nasal Nitric Oxide as an Objective Evaluation Tool for Treatment Response in Chronic Rhinitis

Background and Objectives Inconsistencies in nasal nitric oxide (nNO) values, due to anatomical variations and comorbidities, challenge the accurate assessment of upper airway inflammation severity. We hypothesized that changes in nNO levels following treatment for chronic rhinitis would be consiste...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sangeun Lee, Su Mi Seong, Hyeop Oh, Jihun Yoon, Bo Hae Kim, Joo Hyun Park, Yun-Sung Lim, Chang Gun Cho, Seok-Won Park, Jin Youp Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Rhinologic Society 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Rhinology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://j-rhinology.org/upload/pdf/jr-2025-00009.pdf
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Background and Objectives Inconsistencies in nasal nitric oxide (nNO) values, due to anatomical variations and comorbidities, challenge the accurate assessment of upper airway inflammation severity. We hypothesized that changes in nNO levels following treatment for chronic rhinitis would be consistent and provide relative value. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between changes in nNO levels and symptomatic improvements following treatment for chronic rhinitis. Methods This prospective observational study included 46 participants diagnosed with chronic rhinitis between December 2021 and November 2023. nNO measurements, evaluations of four nasal and two ocular symptoms, and quality of life questionnaires were conducted at baseline and after one month of treatment. Baseline laboratory tests included serum total immunoglobulin E levels, blood eosinophil percentages, and skin prick tests. Results The Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS), TNSS with ocular symptoms (TNSS eye), and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores significantly decreased following treatment (all p<0.001). nNO levels also decreased significantly after treatment (p=0.036). Moreover, changes in nNO were significantly correlated with changes in TNSS, TNSS eye, and RQLQ scores (p=0.047, r=0.294; p=0.021, r=0.340; and p=0.004, r=0.419, respectively). Conclusion In patients with chronic rhinitis, changes in TNSS, TNSS eye, and RQLQ scores were correlated with changes in nNO levels after treatment. nNO may serve as a potential objective evaluation tool for chronic rhinitis, particularly in patients who have difficulty reporting symptoms.
ISSN:1229-1498
2384-4361