Rhinitis in patients with acquired hypothyroidism

Our aim was to evaluate the rhinological changes during hypothyroid and euthyroid periods in patients with acquired hypothyroidism.

The newly diagnosed 40 adult patients with hypothyroidism who presented to the Endocrinology clinic at a tertiary hospital were enrolled in the study. Patients having blood thyroid-stimulating hormone levels greater than 4.95 IU/dl were consulted to the ENT clinic. Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scores, Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow rates and nasal mucociliary clearance time of patients were noted before and 4 months after the oral levothyroxine sodium tablet treatment.

Of the patients included in the study, 34 (85%) were females and 6 (15%) were males. The mean thyroid-stimulating hormone values before the treatment was 10.01 ± 3.31 IU/dl and 4.03 ± 2.45 IU/dl at the end of the treatment. The difference in values was statistically significant (p < 0.001). The mean mucociliary clearance time before treatment was 8.03 ± 3.29 min and 7.35 ± 2.87 min at the end of treatment. The decrease in mucociliary clearance time was statistically significant (p = 0.001). We did not detect any significant difference between pre- and posttreatment values of nasal obstruction symptom evaluation scores and peak nasal inspiratory flow rates.

The patients with hypothyroidism have prolonged mucociliary clearance time in hypothyroid period of the disease. Regarding to this data, we may recommend clinicians to follow-up these patients more closely for respiratory tract diseases and sinonasal infections.