Subclinical aspirin sensitivity in subjects with nasal polyposis

It is unclear whether subclinical airway responses to aspirin occur in subjects with nasal polyps and/or asthma without overt sensitivity. Sixty-three subjects without known aspirin sensitivity (13 controls, 17 nasal polyps alone, 15 nasal polyps and asthma and 18 asthma alone) inhaled increasing concentrations of nebulized lysine aspirin. Forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), symptoms and other potential markers of an airway response were measured. Four subjects (one polyps alone, one asthma alone, two with both) had a positive response to lysine aspirin predefined as symptoms plus a >10% fall in FEV1 from baseline. However, there was no evidence of a general subclinical response in any of the subject groups: mean (95% CI) change in FEV1; control 0.07 (-0.02,0.16) L, nasal polyps alone -0.05 (-0.16,0.05) L, nasal polyps with asthma -0.03 (-0.10,0.04) L, asthma alone -0.03 (-0.09,0.03) L. We concluded that in the absence of a suggestive clinical history, only a small proportion of patients with nasal polyposis are likely to be sensitive to aspirin. There is no evidence of general subclinical sensitivity to aspirin in subjects with nasal polyps and no relevant history.