Procalcitonin Levels in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare procalcitonin levels of patients diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) and CRS without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) along with healthy controls.

A total of 67 subjects were included. Twenty-two CRSwNP patients were included in group A, 25 CRSsNP patients in group B, and the control group (group C) consisted of 20 healthy subjects. Procalcitonin level was assessed after CRSwNP or CRSsNP diagnosis. Healthy individuals scheduled for septorhinoplasty constituted the control group. Nasal polyposis was graded according to the Meltzer Clinical Scoring System.

The mean procalcitonin levels of patients of groups A, B and C were 0.042±0.020 μg/L, 0.031±0.016 μg/L and 0.031±0.010 μg/L, respectively. Mean procalcitonin levels were significantly higher in group A compared to groups B and C (p=0.05 and p=0.032). However, mean procalcitonin levels were not significantly different between group B and group C (p=0.962). Four patients (18%) had grade 1, three had (13.6%) grade 2, eight had (36.4%) grade 3, and seven had (31.8%) grade 4 polyposis. Mean procalcitonin levels for grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 polyposis were 0.045±0.030 μg/L, 0.037±0.006 μg/L, 0.041±0.021 μg/L and 0.043±0.019 μg/L, respectively. No statistical significance was present regarding the mean procalcitonin levels of polyposis grades (p>0.05).

Procalcitonin, which is an important inflammatory marker especially in sepsis and systemic inflammation, was significantly elevated in CRSwNP patients compared to CRSsNP patients and healthy controls. This may support the presence of chronic mucosal inflammation in CRSwNP patients. However, procalcitonin is an indirect marker of inflammation and further studies with larger patient groups are warranted.