The comparison of histopathological characteristics of polyps in asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients

INTRODUCTION: Considering the different clinical aspects of polyps in asthmatic and nonasthmatic patients, we aimed to explore their histopathololgical characteristics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-live asthmatic patients land 25 nonasthmatic patients with polypoid chronic rhinosinusitis (29 male. 21 female; mean age 41.3 +/- 13.27; range 15-78 years) were enrolled in the study to be compared on the basis of histopathological characteristics. They were compared according, to the following seven light microscopic findings: basement membrane thickness, Goblet cell hyperplasia, subepithelial edema, submucous gland formation, cosinophilic infiltration, lymphocytic infiltration, and polymorphonuclear infiltration. RESULTS: Basement membrane thickening, Goblet cell hyperplasia. and eosinophilic and lymphocytic infiltration were more prominent in the asthmatic compared with the nonasthmatic group (P < 0.05). whereas polymorphonuclear infiltration was more prominent in nonasthmatics (P < 0.05). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups with regard to submucosal gland hyperplasia Or subepithelial edema. CONCLUSION: Asthmatic patients present histopathological characteristics of a marked chronic inflammatory reaction, which might explain the negative effect oil chronic rhinosinusitis Outcome and the severity of the disease in this group. (C) 2009 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.