Influence of allergy, asthma and hypertension on nasal polyposis

Arterial hypertension was found in 78 of 224 consecutive patients operated for nasal polyposis. An exacerbated degree of hypertension was significant in groups aged above 50 years. In total, 46% of patients whose nasal polyposis lasted for more than 10 years suffered from hypertension. Fifty of 78 patients developed hypertension after nasal polyposis had been established, and the mean duration time from polyposis to hypertension was 11.1 years. Eosinophilic infiltration was found in 88% of nasal polyps. Of the patients with eosinophilic polyps, 34.8% were classified as atopic. The most common allergens were house dust, tree- and grass pollen, mite and acetyl salicylate. Hyposensitization against known allergens reduced necessary polypectomy frequency in 60% of patients. The third most common concurrent disease was asthma (26.1%). Ten cases of the triad: asthma, intolerance to acetyl salicyclic acid and nasal polyps were found, comprising 4.4% of all patients. Fifty percent of these patients also had hypertension. This investigation strengthens earlier studies that hypertension is not an aetiologica factor for nasal polyposis but can develop secondary to nasal obstruction.