The relationship between hypothyroidism and rhinitis

Year 2010, Volume: 20 Issue: 4, 163 - 168, 20.08.2010

Ceren Günel H. Sema Başak Engin Güney

Abstract

Objectives: This study proposed relationship between rhinitis and hypothyroidism and the possibility of whether hypothyroid patients with symptoms of rhinitis could recover by treatment are investigated. Patients and Methods: Twenty-five patients 19 females, 6 males; mean age 42.2 years; range 19 to 65 years diagnosed with hypothyroidism and examined in our clinic by the same doctor between February 2004 and February 2005 were included in the study. In order to evaluate the symptoms of the patients, a detailed form was filled. The degree of symptoms was determined with the visual analog scale VAS by the patients. All patients underwent otorhinolaryngologic examination including nasal endoscopy where the color of nasal mucus, turbinate hypertrophy and rhinorrhea were recorded. Nasal air flows were measured by peak-flow meter. Mucociliary clearance was measured by the saccharin test. Following all the measurements, patients were started on oral therapy with levothyroxin sodium tablets by the ambulatory endocrinology clinic. When the degree of serum thyroid stimulating hormone level fell below 4 µIU/dl, each complaint was re-evaluated by VAS and the examinations were repeated. The measurements of nasal peak flow meter and saccharine clearance time are repeated. Results: The most frequent complaints of the patients were nasal obstruction 48% , headaches 20% and rhinorrhea 16% . Following treatment, the complaints resolved significantly p=0.005 . The difference between the turbinate hypertrophy and mucosal pallor before and after treatment was significant p=0.005 . The clearance time difference before and after treatment was highly significant p=0.001 . The nasal peak flow meter results after treatment were also significantly improved p=0.001 . Conclusion: Besides other examinations, thyroid functions should also be assessed in patients presenting with rhinitis symptoms.

Keywords

Hypothyroidism, nasal obstruction, rhinitis

Hipotirodizm ve rinit arasındaki ilişki

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmada hipotiroidizm ve rinitler arasında olduğu öne sürülen ilişki ve hipotirodili hastalarda görülen rinit semptomlarının tedavi ile düzelme olasılığı araştırıldı.Hastalar ve Yöntemler: Şubat 2004 - Şubat 2005 tarihleri arasında kliniğimizde hipotiroidi tanısı konulan ve aynı hekim tarafından değerlendirilen 25 hasta 19 kadın, 6 erkek; ort. yaş 42.2 yıl; dağılım 19-65 yıl çalışmaya dahil edildi. Hastaların semptomlarını değerlendirmek için ayrıntılı sorgulama formu dolduruldu. Semptomların derecesi, hasta tarafından, 0-10 arasında puanlandırılan, görsel anolog skala GAS ile belirlendi. Tüm hastalar nazal endoskopiyi içeren kulak burun boğaz muayenesi yapıldı, burun mukozasının rengi soluk-hiperemik , konka hipertrofisi ve burun akıntısı kaydedildi. Nazal hava akımları tepe akım metre ile ölçüldü. Mukosiliyer klirensi sakarin testi ile ölçüldü. Bu işlemleri takiben, tüm hastalara Endokrinoloji polikliniği tarafından ağızdan Levotiroksin sodyum tablet tedavisine başlandı. Serum tiroid stimülan hormon düzeyi 4 µIU/dl’nin altına düştüğü zaman, her bir yakınma GAS ile tekrar değerlendirildi ve muayeneler tekrarlandı. Nazal tepe akım metre ve sakarin klirens zamanı ölçümleri tekrarlandı.Bulgular: Hastaların en sık başvurduğu yakınma nedeni burun tıkanıklığı %48 , baş ağrısı %20 ve burun akıntısı %16 idi. Tedaviyi takiben yakınmalar anlamlı derecede düzeldi p=0.005 . Konka hipertrofisi ve mukozal soluklukta, tedavi öncesi ve sonrası arasındaki fark anlamlıydı p=0.005 . Hastaların tedavi öncesi ve sonrası klirens zamanı arasındaki fark anlamlı bulundu p=0.001 . Nazal tepe akım metre sonuçları, tedavi sonrası anlamlı şekilde iyileşti p=0.001 .Sonuç: Rinit semptomları bulunan hastalarda, diğer muayenelerin yanı sıra tiroid bezi fonksiyonları da araştırılmalıdır

Keywords

Hipotiroidizm, burun tıkanıklığı, rinit

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