FEATURES OF VASOMOTOR RHINITIS IN PATIENTS WITH A HISTORY OF COVID-19 INFECTION

Area of Science:

• Otorhinolaryngology
• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Vasomotor rhinitis (VMR) is a chronic nasal condition.
• The impact of prior COVID-19 infection on VMR pathogenesis is not fully understood.
• Investigating post-COVID-19 VMR can reveal insights into immune and inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathogenesis of VMR in patients with a history of COVID-19.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a local antihistamine drug in treating VMR.
• To compare VMR patients with and without a history of COVID-19.

Main Methods:

• Comparative study of VMR patients with (Group I) and without (Group II) prior COVID-19 infection.
• Exclusion criteria included allergies, asthma, CRS, polyposis, aspirin sensitivity, pregnancy, and recent anti-inflammatory use.
• Evaluations included rhinoscopy, endoscopy, rhinomanometry, nasal cytology (eosinophils, neutrophils, leukocytes), nasal nitric oxide (NO), and serum total antioxidant activity (TAA).
• Treatment involved intranasal antihistamine spray for 10 days, with assessments before and after.

Main Results:

• No significant initial differences in objective/subjective VMR indicators between groups.
• Group I (post-COVID-19) showed higher nasal eosinophils, lymphocytes, neutrophils, and lower NO levels compared to Group II.
• Lower serum TAA was observed in VMR patients, particularly in Group I, compared to healthy volunteers.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 survivors with VMR exhibit heightened oxidative stress and depleted nasal NO, impairing protective functions and leading to chronic inflammation and hyperresponsiveness.
• Intranasal antihistamine spray is effective for VMR treatment in both groups.
• Extended treatment duration for antihistamine nasal spray is recommended for VMR patients with a history of COVID-19.