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Updated: Mar 13, 2026
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Published on: June 23, 2023
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Alcohol hyper-responsiveness in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Els De Schryver1, Lara Derycke1, Paloma Campo2
1Upper Airways Research Laboratory, Department Otorhinolaryngology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.
Summary
Alcohol triggers worsening symptoms in many with chronic airway disease. This study found alcohol hyper-responsiveness is most common in severe eosinophilic upper airway conditions, particularly nasal polyps.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Respiratory Medicine
Background:
- A significant number of individuals with chronic upper airway diseases experience exacerbated symptoms after alcohol consumption.
- The prevalence and specific characteristics of respiratory reactions to alcohol-containing beverages remain incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and features of alcohol hyper-responsiveness in patients with chronic airway conditions and healthy individuals.
- To assess nasal inflammation in patients with nasal polyps, comparing those with and without alcohol hyper-responsiveness.
Main Methods:
- A questionnaire-based survey was administered to 1281 participants, including patients with NSAID-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (CRSsNP), allergic rhinitis (AR), and healthy controls.
- Inflammatory markers (ECP, IL-5, IgE, SAE-specific IgE, IL-17, TNFα, IFNγ) in nasal tissue were analyzed and compared between alcohol hyper-responsive and non-hyper-responsive CRSwNP patients.
Main Results:
- Alcohol hyper-responsiveness was most prevalent in NERD patients, followed by CRSwNP, and less common in CRSsNP, AR, and healthy controls.
- The condition was significantly more frequent in CRSwNP patients with recurrent disease and severe symptoms.
- Elevated levels of the eosinophilic biomarker ECP were found in the nasal tissue of alcohol hyper-responsive CRSwNP patients.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol hyper-responsiveness is notably more common in severe cases of eosinophilic upper airway disease.
- Findings suggest a link between alcohol sensitivity and eosinophilic inflammation in upper airway conditions.
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