Clinical and Immunological Efficacy of Aspirin Desensitization in Nasal Polyp Patients with Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and the underlining mechanism of aspirindesensitization among patients with Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD). Thirtyeightpatients, who had undergone an aspirin challenge test and were diagnosed as havingAERD, were engaged in a double-blind randomized clinical trial. They were divided into twogroups—an active group of patients who went through aspirin desensitization, and the controlgroup, receiving placebo. Clinical symptoms and the quality of life of the patients—in additionto the levels of interleukin 4 and 5 (IL4), (IL5)—were documented at the beginning of the studyand again after six months of aspirin desensitization. The quality of life of the patients wassignificantly higher in the active group after six months (P = 0.001). Medication requirementsand symptom score were manifested to be significantly lower in the active group after sixmonths than at the beginning of the study (P = 0.005, 0.017 respectively). Forced expiratoryvolume in the second one (FEV1) was, also, significantly higher in the active group after sixmonths of the study (P = 0.032). IL5 was found to be significantly lower in the active groupafter six months (P = 0.019). However, no significant difference was observed in the levelsof IL4 between the two groups (P = 0.152). The study revealed that aspirin desensitizationcan improve the quality of life of patients with AERD, lessen their symptoms and medicationrequirements, lower their levels of IL5, and improve some pulmonary function tests such asFEV1.