Ultrastructural changes in human nasal mucosa in rhinitis medicamentosa

• Published in: HNO Vol. 54; no. 10; p. 742
• Main Authors: Knipping, S, Holzhausen, H J, Riederer, A, Bloching, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.10.2006
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists - administration & dosage; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists - adverse effects; Capillary Permeability - drug effects; Chronic Disease; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Epithelial Cells - drug effects; Epithelial Cells - pathology; Humans; Imidazoles - administration & dosage; Imidazoles - adverse effects; Long-Term Care; Microscopy, Electron; Mucociliary Clearance - drug effects; Nasal Decongestants - administration & dosage; Nasal Decongestants - adverse effects; Nasal Mucosa - blood supply; Nasal Mucosa - drug effects; Nasal Mucosa - pathology; Nasal Obstruction - drug therapy; Oxymetazoline - administration & dosage; Oxymetazoline - adverse effects; Rhinitis - chemically induced; Rhinitis - pathology; Tachyphylaxis; Turbinates - drug effects; Turbinates - pathology
• ISSN: 0017-6192
• DOI: 10.1007/s00106-005-1370-7

Long-term abuse of decongestive nasal drops causes rhinitis medicamentosa due to cytotoxic and ciliary-toxic effects. Nasal obstruction is caused by rebound swelling when the decongestive effect has disappeared. The patient starts using nasal drops more frequently as a result of tachyphylaxis. Tissue samples from human inferior turbinates from 22 patients who had overused decongestive nose drops were taken during nasal surgery and preserved in phosphate-buffered paraformaldehyde or glutaraldehyde. Ultrathin sections were cut. The samples were dehydrated and embedded in Araldit. The findings were photo-documented using a light- and transmission electron microscope. Biopsies from ten patients without chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa were used as controls. The electron microscopic investigations revealed epithelium showing severe damage corresponding to regions with hyperplastic and metaplastic changes. Loss of ciliated cells was observed. Under a thick basal membrane, ultrastructural changes to the endothelial lining, such as openings and rupture of the basal lamina, were detected. Prominent endothelial cells were conspicuous. Rhinitis medicamentosa is a drug-induced injury to human nasal mucosa associated with the prolonged abuse of topical nasal decongestants. Loss and destruction of ciliated epithelial cells are the morphological correlation to the disturbance of mucociliary clearance. Endothelial cells of capillaries, in particular, revealed ultrastructural changes indicative of increased permeability with consecutive interstitial edema.