The long-term results of the impact of rhinophototherapy on quality of life in cases with allergic rhinitis

Abstract

Objective: In this study the effects of intranasal rhinophototherapy on symptoms of allergic rhinitis, physical examination findings, and quality of life of our patients with allergic rhinitis have been investigated. Methods: Our study group consisted of the patients followed up for at least 2 years with diagnosis of allergic rhinitis in our outpatient clinic. Among them the first 100 patients who underwent nasal phototherapy from January 2006 on, and followed up by us at least one year constituted our study group. The patients presenting with complaints of rhinorrhea, nasal itching, and stuffiness had undergone all physical examinations of Ear Nose and Throat system. Specific IgE levels were determined, and skin Prick tests were performed. Results: Our study group consisted of 32 male and 69 female patients with a median age of 35.09 (range 18 to 52) years. When the responses to "The Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire" for adults were evaluated globally, it can be concluded that phototherapy method applied had improved quality of life markedly at the end of one month, but the level of improvement did not remain the same up to 3rd months, on the contrary it decreased, and at end of one year it attenuated significantly. In the short-term the most apparent response to phototherapy was observed in nasal symptoms, restricted activities, and sleep parameters. However, ocular and non-allergic symptoms improved minimally. Conclusion: As an outcome of our study, it was detected that phototherapy improved symptoms of allergic rhinitis, and physical examination findings, and effected quality of life scores favorably. However in the long run, it was concluded that adequate responses could not be obtained.

Keywords

• Allergic rhinitis, ultraviolet light, rhinophototeraphy, quality of life

Rinofototerapinin alerjik rinitli olgularda yaşam kalitesine etkisinin uzun dönem sonuçları

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışmada allerjik rinitli hastalarımıza uygulanan intranazal fototerapinin, allerjik rinit semptomları, muayene bulguları ve bu hastaların yaşam kalitesi üzerine etkileri araştırılmıştır. Yöntem: Çalışma grubumuzu, polikliniğimizde alerjik rinit tanısı ile en az 2 yıldır takip edilen ve Ocak 2006 tarihinden itibaren nazal fototerapi uygulanan ve 1 yıllık takibini gerçekleştirebildiğimiz ilk 100 hasta oluşturmaktadır. Polikliniğimize burun akıntısı, burun kaşıntısı, burun tıkanıklığı şikayeti ile başvuran hastalara tüm kulak burun boğaz fizik muayeneleri yapıldı. Spesifik IgE düzeyleri saptandı ve Prick deri testi yapıldı. Bulgular: Çalışma grubumuzu oluşturan hastaların 31'i erkek, 69'u kadındı. Yaşları 18 ile 52 arasında olup, yaş ortalaması 35.09 idi. Burun ve Gözlerinde Alerjisi Olan Yetişkinler İçin Yaşam Kalitesi Soru Formu sonuçları global olarak değerlendirildiğinde uygulanan fototerapi tedavi yönteminin 1. ay sonunda yaşam kalitesini belirgin düzeyde iyileştirdiği, bu iyileşmenin 3. aya kadar aynı düzeyde devam etmeyip azaldığı ancak 1. yılda etkinin büyük ölçüde azaldığı şeklinde yorumlanabilir. Kısa dönemde fototerapiye en belirgin yanıt burun semptomları, kısıtlanan faaliyetler ve uyku parametrelerinde gözlenmiştir. En az düzelme ise okuler semptomlar ve alerji dışı semptomlarda olmuştur. Sonuç: Çalışmamız sonucunda fototerapinin kısa dönemde alerjik rinit semptom ve muayene bulgularında düzelme sağladığı, hastaların yaşam kalitesi skorlarını olumlu yönde etkileyen bir tedavi yöntemi olduğu saptandı. Ancak uzun dönemde yeterli yanıtın alınamadığı kanaatine varıldı.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Alerjik rinit, ultraviyole ışık, rinofototerapi, yaşam kalitesi

Kaynakça

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