Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  1997 Sep;40(9):1280-1285.

Effect of Topical Corticosteroid on Nasal Polyps

• Cho JH
• Koo Y
• Lee NS
• Won YS
• Yoon HR
• Suh BD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Topical nasal corticosteroid therapy produces clinical improvement in patients with nasal polyposis, but there are lots of controversy about the pathogenesis of nasal polyps and the mode of action of steroid therapy.
OBJECTIVES
To examine the mechanism of steroid effect, we investigated the histological change in apex, body and stalk of nasal polyps individually after topical steroid therapy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ten patients with nasal polyposis were treated with budesonide nasal spray, 100ng(50ng/puff) twice daily in each nostril for 4 weeks. we quantified the number of inflammatory cell types and compared the histologic types and structures in each portion of nasal polyps from the patients.
RESULTS
Administration of topical corticosteroid over 2 weeks caused changes in each portion of nasal polyps histologically. The histologic changes showed decreased edema and increased fibrosis under light microscope and it was evident with longer administration of the topical corticosteroid. The number of plasma cells in body portion was decreased after treatment. Electron microscopy showed that the number of degranulated granules of mast cell was increased in 2 weeks after treatment and then decreased in 4 weeks at pedicle portion of nasal polyps.
CONCLUSION
The results of this study suggest that the administration of topical corticosteroid may cause activation of healing process histologically.

Keyword

Nasal polyps; Topical corticosteroid; Mast cell; Degranulated granules

MeSH Terms

Budesonide
Edema
Fibrosis
Humans
Mast Cells
Microscopy, Electron
Nasal Polyps*
Plasma Cells
Budesonide