[Relationship between expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in nasal mucosa and outcome after endoscopic...

To explore the role of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the physiological mechanism of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), and to elucidate the relationship between the expression of iNOS in nasal mucosa and the outcome of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Thirty-one patients of CRS were divided into two groups according to the levels of IgE in blood serum: Group A with high levels of serum TIgE (TIgE > or = 90 kU/L) and Group B with low levels of serum TIgE (TIgE < 90 kU/L). Immunohistochemical procedures were taken to determine the expression of iNOS in the nasal mucosa of each CRS patient, and the CT scans of sinuses were evaluated by the Lund-Mackay CT staging system. The time of the operative cavity epithelialized (OCE) was recorded by the unit of week. Associated between time of OCE and the the expression of iNOS or the CT staging was analyzed.

The time of OCE was positive correlated with the expression of iNOS in Group A (P < 0.05) and did not show a clear correlation with the CT staging, while in Group B it was positive correlated with the CT staging (P < 0.05) and did not correlate with the expression of iNOS.

iNOS may be a predictive factor in the outcome of ESS. In cases of CRS patients with high levels of TIgE, time of OCE is positive correlated with the expression of iNOS in the nasal mucosa.