Search

Background: The role of allergy in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in East Asians is not clear. Aims/objectives: The aim was to investigate the impact of allergies in the clinical characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis. Material and methods: A total of 138 CRS patients who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery were included. A brief history of rhinosinusitis symptoms, blood eosinophil count, blood-specific allergen tests, computed tomography (CT) scan findings, Lund-Mackay (LM) CT scores, and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) Questionnaire scores, and sinoscopy findings at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. Results: The ImmunoCAP test was positive in 71(51%) patients and negative in 67(49%) patients. The mean age of those who received endoscopic sinus surgery was 7-years younger in the allergic group compared with the non-allergic group (p = .008). The peripheral eosinophil count in the allergic group was higher than that of the non-allergic group (p = .008). The LM scores and SNOT-22 scores were not significantly different between the two groups. The recurrence rate of nasal polyps in the allergic group was higher but without statistical significance. Conclusions and significance: Allergy may accelerate the disease progression of CRS. The presence of the serum-specific IgE was correlated with peripheral eosinophil percentage, especially in the CRSwNP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study revisited seven patients with Lermoyez syndrome over the past 25 years using an inner ear test battery to elucidate its mechanism. Methods: From 1992 to 2017, we have experienced 4096 patients with Meniere's disease (MD) and seven patients (5 males and 2 females, 8 ears) with Lermoyez syndrome. Two of the Lermoyez patients were elderly, aged 71 and 85 years. An inner ear test battery comprising audiometry, ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP and cVEMP) tests, and caloric test were performed. Results: Significant improvement of mean hearing levels (MHLs) was identified at low and middle frequencies after vertiginous attack, but not at high frequencies. Inner ear deficits in Lermoyez patients ran from abnormal hearing (100%) to abnormal cVEMP (43%), caloric (38%) and oVEMP (0) tests, exhibiting a significantly declining sequence. This declining sequence differed from that in MD. Conclusions: Lermoyez syndrome is extremely rare, with prevalence relative to MD of 0.2%. The mechanism is considered as blockage in the ductus reuniens caused by dislodged saccular otoconia. Aging and trauma are two precipitating factors for the dislodged saccular otoconia, which may explain why Lermoyez syndrome occurs most frequently in males and some elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]