ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Otorinolaringologia 2008 March;58(1):13-6

Copyright © 2008 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Nasal reactivity in diffuse systemic sclerosis: a study

Giuliano D. A., Abate M., Falciglia R.

Unità Operativa di Otorinolaringoiatria Azienda Ospedaliera Umberto I, Enna, Italia

Aim. The systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease with an abnormal collagen accumulation in skin and viscera. Even if the objective signs of this disease do not usually include nasal cavities mucosa lesions, a difficulty in nasal breathing is a frequent anamnestic finding, sometimes joined to nocturnal snoring. In order to verify the presence of a nasal mucosa disreactivity without evident local endothelial damages in subjects with a diffuse form of the disease, a case/control study was performed.
Methods. The study enrolled a group of patients selected on the basis of reference symptoms (difficulty in nasal breathing) and the absolute normality of the rhinological objectivity.
Results. Basal positional rhinomanometry, performed with water at 5 °C, has revealed the presence of “paradoxical responses” in patients affected by diffuse systemic sclerosis (70% in the supine decubitus, 50% homolateral and 60% controlateral) in positional tests and a statistically significant increase in resistance (P<0.05) vs the control group, both in the positional testing and upon cold water stimulation.
Conclusion. It is possible to assert that in a significant number of cases of diffuse systemic sclerosis nasal neuroautonomic disorders characteristic of aspecific vasomotor rhinopathy are recognizable.