Local treatment of aspecific nasal hyperreactivity with capsaicin

Ten patients with vasomotor rhinitis underwent local treatment with capsaicin (30 micromol.), once per week for five weeks; controls were carried out at weekly intervals and 1, 3 and 6 months after therapy. Assessment was made using symptom score and nasal resistance scores both basal and subsequent to aspecific nasal provocation. Results showed abatement of symptoms, and reduction of nasal resistance and aspecific hyperreactivity already during the second week. This trend continued for six months, with endoscopic improvement also. Hence, this treatment proved to be efficient in reducing nasal reactivity.