Autonomic nervous system evaluation of patients with vasomotor rhinitis. Laryngoscope 2000 Nov;110(11):1828-31
Date
11/18/2000Pubmed ID
11081594DOI
10.1097/00005537-200011000-00012Scopus ID
2-s2.0-0033763791 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 72 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the utility of quantitative neurological laboratory testing of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and to apply this methodology to further study the relation of chronic vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis to the autonomic nervous system.
METHODS: It has been suspected that vasomotor rhinitis is due either to a hyperactive parasympathetic nervous system or an imbalance between it and the sympathetic nervous system. The exact relation has not been determined. Recently neurological laboratories have been developed in which a battery of tests can be performed to determine reactivity of the autonomic nervous system.
RESULTS: Autonomic nervous system testing was performed on 19 patients with symptoms fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for vasomotor rhinitis and the results were compared with 75 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Patients with vasomotor rhinitis had significant abnormalities of their sudomotor, cardiovagal, and adrenergic subscores. Their composite autonomic scale score was significantly impaired at 2.43, as compared with 0.11 for controls (P < .005).
CONCLUSION: Autonomic nervous system dysfunction is significant in patients with vasomotor rhinitis. Possible factors that trigger this dysfunction including nasal trauma and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux are discussed.
Author List
Jaradeh SS, Smith TL, Torrico L, Prieto TE, Loehrl TA, Darling RJ, Toohill RJAuthor
Todd A. Loehrl MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultAutonomic Nervous System Diseases
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Rhinitis, Vasomotor
