Serum Hormone Levels in Female Patients With Atrophic Rhinitis

Atrophic rhinitis is a long-term inflammation of the nasal lining that leads to tissue thinning, abnormal cell changes, and crust buildup due to changes in blood vessel structure. It can be classified as primary or secondary, often developing after major nasal surgeries like inferior turbinectomy or as a result of infections such as tuberculosis, leprosy, or syphilis. The condition is marked by unusually wide nasal passages, nosebleeds, and, in rare cases, maggot infestation. The precise cause of primary atrophic rhinitis remains unclear. However, poor nutrition, low socioeconomic conditions, and inadequate hygiene have been linked to its development, particularly in association with Klebsiella ozaenae. It is more frequently observed in women of reproductive age. Research on hormonal influences in atrophic rhinitis has yielded mixed findings, and studies specifically examining hormone levels in this condition are relatively scarce.

This study aims to examine the association between female hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, nutritional status, and the development of atrophic rhinitis.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 60 female patients (aged 15-50 years) diagnosed with primary atrophic rhinitis in the Department of ENT and compared with 60 age-matched healthy female controls (15-50 years). Serum samples were collected, and estrogen and progesterone levels were estimated using ELISA (Merilyzer EIAQuant, Meril Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., Vapi, Gujarat, India) at the Multi-disciplinary Research Unit, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla. Following standard procedures, nutritional factors, including serum vitamin D3, vitamin B12, protein, iron, and calcium levels, were measured at RDC, VIMSAR, and Burla. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistics version 21.0 (IBM Corp. Released 2012. IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

This study found that serum estrogen levels (pg/ml) were significantly lower (p<0.0001) in cases compared to controls across all age groups. However, there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) in progesterone levels (ng/ml) between cases and controls across all age groups. Additionally, the mean serum levels of vitamin D3, vitamin B12, protein, iron, and calcium were significantly lower (p<0.05) in cases compared to controls.

This study suggests an association between low estrogen levels, poor nutritional status, and primary atrophic rhinitis in female patients.