[Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis as a possible adverse effect of non-selective beta blockers]

Five patients presented with unusually severe and therapy-resistant rhinitis, sinusitis, and nasal polyps. Long courses of antibiotics did not cure the sinusitis, and recurrences appeared soon after surgical intervention. The patients used non-selective beta blockers for hypertension or as secondary prophylaxis after cardiac infarction, either timolol (n = 4) or propranolol (n = 1), and the nasal problems developed with a latency ranging from a few days up to four years of beta blocker use. Two of the patients discontinued the beta blocker for reasons relating to cardiovascular status and experienced complete remission of the nasal problems without further treatment. In the three remaining patients the therapy was withdrawn. The symptoms cleared within weeks, and did not recur. The patients who needed beta blockade experienced no recurrence when put on beta-1-selective blocker (metoprolol or atenolol).