Antioxidant levels in the nasal mucosa of patients with chronic sinusitis and healthy controls.

BACKGROUND

Imbalances between oxidant formation and antioxidative defense are associated with the pathogenesis of several chronic inflammatory disorders of the respiratory tract. Therefore, a role of oxidative stress in chronic upper airway tract infections can be anticipated.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if patients with chronic sinusitis demonstrate a reduced antioxidative tissue status.

METHODS

The levels of 3 biologically important antioxidants, reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione, uric acid, and vitamin E, were determined biochemically in mucosal biopsy specimens from the uncinate process of patients with chronic sinusitis and healthy controls.

METHODS

Inflamed mucosa samples were obtained from 9 patients with chronic sinusitis during functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Normal mucosa samples were collected from 10 healthy controls during surgery for nasal obstruction.

RESULTS

The data (presented as mean +/- SD) show a significant reduction (P < or = .05) of reduced glutathione levels (0.3 +/- 0.1 mumol/g wet weight) and uric acid levels (2.7 +/- 0.4 mumol/g wet weight) in mucosa samples obtained from patients with chronic sinusitis compared with healthy controls (0.6 +/- 0.2 and 3.4 +/- 0.6 mumol/g wet weight, respectively). No difference was found in oxidized glutathione (24 +/- 8 vs 25 +/- 15 nmol/g wet weight) and vitamin E (20.5 +/- 7.9 vs 22.5 +/- 6.9 nmol/g wet weight) levels between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Decreased levels of both reduced glutathione and uric acid in patients with chronic sinusitis lead to a diminished antioxidant defense, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of upper respiratory tract disorders. The vitamin E level seems less important. This finding may offer perspectives for pharmacotherapeutic intervention with antioxidants.