Long-term effects of topical corticosteroids in the nose

In a prospective study, biopsies were taken from the septal mucosa in 21 patients of whom 11 had been using topical nasal corticosteroids. In contrast to the effect of long-term treatment with corticosteroids in the skin, but in accordance with previous investigations of the nasal mucosa, no histopathological changes of significance were found, although the biopsies were taken from different sites. These findings do not suggest that topically corticosteroids are harmful to the nasal mucosa.