[Predictive significance of tissue eosinophilia for nasal polyp recurrence]

To evaluate the association between clinical parameters, especially tissue eosinophilia, and chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) recurrence. To identify optimal criteria of tissue eosinophilia as a predictor for recurrence.

Two hundred and forty-eight CRSwNP patients were enrolled in this study. The demographic and clinical features were compared between recurrence and no recurrence groups. Mucosal specimens were assessed for the presence of tissue inflammatory cells. Factors associated with polyp recurrence were analyzed by Logistic regression analysis and optimal cutoff point of the predictor for nasal polyp recurrence was determined by receiver operating characteristic curve. SPSS 19.0 software was used to analyze the data.

The recurrence rate was 55.6%(138/248 patients) in this cohort. Tissue and peripheral eosinophilia, comorbid asthma, olfactory score and Lund-Mackay score were significantly correlated with polyp recurrence(all P<0.01). As a predictor for recurrence, tissue eosinophil accumulation outweighed other parameters. A cutoff value of 27% for tissue eosinophil percentage was able to predict recurrence with 96.4% sensitivity and 92.7% specificity (AUC=0.971, P<0.001).

Tissue eosinophilia provides valuable information regarding to polyp recurrence. Tissue eosinophil proportion equal to or over 27% may be regarded as the prognostic criterion for nasal polyp recurrence.