EVALUATION OF A TEST FOR OBJECTIVE DIAGNOSIS OF NONALLERGIC NASAL HYPERREACTIVITY

A model for objective diagnosis of nonallergic nasal hyperreactivity has previously been reported. In that study rhinostereometry was used to record the nasal mucosal congestion during challenge with histamine in healthy subjects and in patients with nonallergic nasal hyperreactivity. The aim of this study is to record and compare the nasal mucosal response with histamine challenge, in terms of congestion, in patients with nonallergic nasal hyperreactivity suffering from different main symptoms (sneezing, blockage, or enhanced secretion). Eleven women and seven men entered the trial. The patients were divided into three categories, sneezers, blockers, and runners. The nasal mucosal congestion during challenge with histamine was recorded with rhinostereometry and the results from each category were compared with each other. There is an increasing mucosal congestion during the challenge without significant difference between the three categories. The results suggest that the model can be useful as a method for objective diagnosis of nonallergic nasal hyperreactivity independent of main symptoms.