Longitudinal Analysis of Inflammatory Biomarkers During Acute Rhinosinusitis

Objective: To illuminate the pathophysiology of acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) with sequential monitoring of inflammatory biomarkers during an ARS episode and to clarify their diagnostic usability in bacterial ARS. Study Design: Inception cohort study with 50 conscripts with ARS. Methods: We collected peripheral blood high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), white blood cell (WBC), procalcitonin, and nasal nitric oxide (nNO) counts at 2 to 3 and 9 to 10 days of symptoms during an ARS episode. We simultaneously gathered various clinical parameters and microbiological samples. Bacterial ARS was confirmed with a positive culture of sinus aspirate. Results: Reciprocal correlations and a significant change in biomarker levels between the two visits suggest that ARS involves a local and systemic inflammatory response that was strongest at 2 to 3 days. High-sensitive CRP and nNO reflected responses best (52% had increased CRP levels at 2-3 days; 66% had decreased nNO levels). White blood cell and procalcitonin counts rarely exceeded the reference range. Increased local and systemic inflammatory response were linked to multiple, adenoviral, or influenza A viral etiology or the detection of bacterial ARS. Local response correlated with imaging findings of wide paranasal sinus involvement and ostiomeatal complex occlusion. At 9 to 10 days, elevated (>= 11 mg/L) and moderately elevated (>= 49 mg/L) hs-CRP predicted bacterial ARS well (likelihood ratio [LR] + 3.3 and LR+ 15.8, respectively), but the sensitivity for both findings remained low. Conclusion: Acute rhinosinusitis (particularly bacterial ARS) involves a local and systemic inflammatory response that is strongest at the beginning of symptoms. Elevated hs-CRP supports the diagnosis of bacterial ARS.