Effects of topical drops and sprays on mucociliary transport time and nasal air flow

This study revealed that the nasal topical drops, which could be purchased without a proper prescription, should not be used randomly and non-selectively.

To investigate the effect of nasal drops and sprays on the nasal air flow and mucociliary transport time (MTT) in healthy volunteers with no septal deviation and no history of frequent upper respiratory infection.

Saline, fluticasone propionate drops and sprays, mometasone furoate, budesonide, xylometasoline chloride, fusafungine spray, Ringer's lactate and sea water were selected as the agents to be investigated. Volunteers were subdivided into two subgroups according to their rhinomanometric scores: group 1 consisted of subjects with nasal respiration > or =500 ml at 150 daPa and group 2 consisted of those with nasal air flow <500 ml.

No statistically significant difference was found among the effects of these agents on MTT in group 1. In group 2, xylometasoline chloride, fluticasone propionate spray and sea water sprays prolonged the MTT. When the rhinomanometric scores at 150 daPa were assessed, use of xylometasoline chloride, fluticasone propionate drops, budesonide, fusafungine, sea water and Ringer's lactate were found to diminish the nasal air flow with respect to normal values in group 1. In group 2, no significant difference was noticed between normal values and values acquired after use of nasal drops. Comparing the same agents, we did not find a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 regarding MTT and nasal air flow.