Sneezing and nasal itching: a potential risk factor for postoperative recurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis.

RATIONALE: Non-AR and idiopathic rhinitis patients has recently increased, with both conditions being classified as local allergic rhinitis (LAR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of local allergic symptoms (LAS) on the clinical outcome and recurrence rate associated with CRS.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 64 patients diagnosed with CRS and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery. All patients received a preoperative allergic skin prick test, multiple allergosorbent test, and paranasal sinus CT. Total nasal symptom scores were used to determine the severity of symptoms. Sneezing and nasal itching were categorized as LAS. We evaluated the relationships of the clinical characteristics and recurrence rate of CRS according to the presence or absence of AR and LAS.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the age, sex between the LAS (+) and LAS (-) groups, but the TNSS was significantly higher in the LAS (+) group (p=0.03). In the Non-AR patients, there was no significant difference in the age, sex, and TNSS between the LAS (+) and LAS (-) groups. The CRS recurrence rate was not significantly different between the AR group (29.6%) and the Non-AR group (43.2%) (p=0.374). However, the CRS recurrence rate was significantly higher in the LAS (+) group (46.7%) than in the LAS (-) group (15.8%) (p=0.02). The CRS recurrence rate was significantly higher in the LAS (+) group (56%) than in the LAS (-) group (16.7%) among the Non-AR patients (p=0.024).

CONCLUSIONS: The CRS recurrence rate was higher in patients with LAS, regardless of the presence of AR.