[Treatment of perennial non-allergic rhinopathy with capsaicin]

Twenty-seven patients suffering from perennial non-allergic rhinitis were treated with capsaicin. The drug was applied intranasally seven times during intervals ranging from 4-7 days. The regimen involved application of a 0.5 ml of a 10 micromolar capsaicin solution on the first day of treatment, 0.5 ml of a 30 micromolar solution on the 2nd and 3rd days of treatment and 0.5 ml of a 100 micromolar solution on the 4th to 7th days of treatment. Two patients dropped out, one because he developed an exanthema of both forearms and the other for unknown reasons. Other side-effects observed were epistaxis (1 case) and increased dryness of the nasal mucosa. Twenty-two patients had experienced nasal obstruction, hypersecretion, nasal itching, sneezing, mucosal dryness and headache before and 6 months following capsaicin application and judged the success of therapy 6 months following treatment. Three patients did not take part in the follow-up. Fifteen of 27 patients felt no change had occurred in nasal complaints, while 7/27 scored significant improvement. Additionally, 11/27 subjects would not undergo this treatment a second time because it had been unsuccessful and/or painful. The mean symptom scores for nasal obstruction, hypersecretion, itching, dryness and headache revealed no significant changes before and 6 months following treatment with capsaicin. Blockers did not benefit from capsaicin treatment. The best change to benefit from intranasal capsaicin application involved patients with nasal hypersecretion and sneezing without substantial obstruction.