ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Hippokratia 2014, 18(4):340-345
Berkiten G, Kumral TL, Çakır O, Yıldırım G, Salturk Z, Uyar Y, Atar Y
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the effects of topical azelastine treatment on symptoms related to adenoid hypertrophy and the size of adenoid tissue in children.
Material and Methods: In total, 60 children who were found to have adenoid hypertrophy were included. A questionnaire on nasal symptoms, nasal endoscopy and skin prick tests was administered to all patients. All patients had complaints of chronic nasal obstruction symptoms and nasal endoscopy showed > 75% choanal obstruction, attributable to adenoid pads. The adenoid/nasopharyngeal areas were calculated. All of the patients underwent azelastine nasal spray therapy (1 spray per nostril, twice daily; 0.28 mg/dose) for 30 days. After 1 month, all children were reassessed. The efficacy of therapy, symptoms, adenoid / nasopharynx ratio, and obstruction ratio, obtained by endoscopy, were compared.
Results: Azelastine treatment was well tolerated by all patients. After the first treatment period, the severity of symptoms, endoscopic grade, and adenoid size decreased in all of the 60 patients. There were significant improvements in total subjective symptoms (nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, cough, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea) post-treatment.
Conclusions: Azelastine nasal spray may be useful in decreasing adenoid pad size and the severity of symptoms related to adenoidal hypertrophy.
Key words: Azelastine, topical administration, adenoid, pediatrics
Corresponding author: Güler Berkiten, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital, Darülaceze cad. Şişli/İstanbul, Turkey, tel: +905057278724, e-mail: gulerberkiten@gmail.com
Introduction
Nasal obstruction is a common symptom in children. Adenoidal hypertrophy (AH) is the major causes, and may be related1. The etiology of AH is unknown, but inflammatory mechanisms may play an important role. Local and systemic inflammatory markers and pro-inflammatory cytokines are increased in these children; these promote lymphoid tissue proliferation. Proper treatment of this condition is essential for controlling nasal obstructive symptoms. Thus, systemic or topical anti-inflammatory agents have been suggested to have a role in the treatment of AH2-4.
Azelastine nasal spray (Allergodil, Lastin, Afluon; Meda AB, Stockholm, Sweden) is a fast-acting, efficacious and well tolerated H1 receptor antagonist for the treatment of rhinitis5. It has mast cell stabilizing and anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the concentration of leukotrienes, kinins, and platelet-activating factor in vitro and in vivo, as well as reducing inflammatory cell migration in rhinitis patients6,7. Well controlled studies in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial rhinitis or vasomotor rhinitis have confirmed that azelastine nasal spray has a rapid onset of action and improves the nasal symptoms associated with rhinitis such as nasal congestion and postnasal drip8.
Enlarged adenoids and tonsils, consisting of hypertrophied lymphoid tissue, may lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). In recent years, however, a new understanding of the inflammatory components of OSA has resulted in the idea that anti-inflammatory agents may be a useful non-invasive treatment option in children with OSA4,9. Thus, in this study, we sought to assess the efficacy of topical azelastine, which has anti-inflammatory properties, on symptoms and the size of adenoid tissue in children complaining of nasal obstruction.
Material and Methods
This research was approved by the Ethics Committee of OkmeydaniTraining and Research Hospital (protocol number: 0181/08). Sixty children that had been examined in our clinic with a prediagnosis of AH between July 2012 and April 2013 were included in the study. All the children were assessed clinically, endoscopically, and radiologically. Those who had a previous adenoidectomy history and positive history of allergy or atopy, craniofacial malformations including labiopalatal clefts and genetic diseases (eg, Down syndrome), neurologic disorders, cardiovascular diseases, acute infections in the nose, palate or nasopharynx and history of chronic epistaxis, immunodeficiency disorders or hypersensitivity to azelastine, were excluded from the study. Inclusion criteria were: a history of habitual snoring for at least the previous 3 months and adenoidal hypertrophy confirmed by simple X-ray findings or an endoscopic examination by an otolaryngologist. Allergic rhinitis was diagnosed when a child had typical allergic symptoms and showed positive result in skin prick test.
At baseline, each child underwent a routine ear nose throat examination and nasal endoscopy; a clinical history was obtained from parents using a questionnaire. Patient history included age, gender, personal and family history of atopy, and use of drugs. Diagnosis of AH was confirmed by nasal endoscopy and lateral radiograph. Each cephalometric graph was evaluated by a blinded author. Effectiveness of the therapy was assessed by the change in symptoms and adenoid tissue, evaluated by nasal endoscopic examination and the adenoid/nasopharynx ratio on a lateral radiographic image before and at the end of therapy. After a 4-week course of therapy, all patients were reassessed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment.
Nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, cough, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea were the symptoms evaluated. These symptoms were graded according to severity, ranging from 0 to 3 (0: absent, 1: occasional, 2: frequent, 3: constant) developed by Berlucchi et al10. Unfortunately Turkis version of this questionarrie had not been validated.
Nasal endoscopy was performed to estimate adenoid size. After application of topical anesthesia in both nostrils (lidocaine 2%) and without decongestion, an endoscopic examination was conducted using a rigid (2.7 mm diameter) endoscope. All nasal endoscopies, conducted as the patient was performing quiet nasal breathing, were recorded using a Karl Storz camera (Karl Storz, Tuttlingen, Germany). The size of the adenoid was determined and the distance of the adenoid tissue from the vomer was assessed11 and graded as: Grade l: distance > l cm, Grade 2: distance 0.5-1.0 cm, Grade 3: distance < 0.5 cm.
A lateral nasopharyngeal X-ray was performed in all patients in the supine position during nasal inspiration with the necks slightly extended and the mouth closed at a distance of 1 m from the radiation tube. Using the reference points and lines on lateral radiographs of the nasopharynx, adenoid size and nasopharyngeal depth were calculated from all X-rays.
Adenoidal measurement (A) used the line beginning from the most convex point of adenoid tissue and extending to the anterior line of the basioccipital part of the occipital bone. The nasopharyngeal space (N) was the line extending from the posterior edge of the hard palate and anteroinferior side of the sphenobasioccipital synchondrosis or from the posteroinferior side lateral pterygoid plate to the bony part of the nasopharynx12. It was graded as Grade l if it was >6 mm, Grade 2 if it was 4-6mm, and Grade 3 if it was 0‑3 mm. As adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (A/N ratio) was defined the ratio of adenoid size/nasopharyngeal depth (Fujioka’s method)13. A/N ratio pre- treatment and post-treatment were compared.
Statistical analyses were conducted using the NCSS (Number Cruncher Statistical System) 2007 and PASS (Power Analysis and Sample Size) 2008 Statistical Software (Utah, USA). Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation and frequency), as well as Kruskal Wallis test for the non-parametric data and Mann Whitney U test for post-hoc comparison were used to compare qualitative data for analysis. Spearman’s correlation test was also used for the evaluation of the relationship between the parameters. P values <0.05 and p<0.01 were considered to indicate statistical significance.
Results
No patient had a personal or family history of allergy or atopy, had undergone previous surgery, had received any drugs in the past 4 weeks, or had immunodeficiencies.
In total, 60 children (32 males, 28 females), aged 6-14 years, with nasopharyngeal obstruction due to adenoid hypertrophy were included in the study. The mean age was 8.52 ± 2.48 years (Table 1).
There were significant differences in nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, cough, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea between pre- and post-treatment (p = 0.001) (Table 2, Figure 1).
Figure 1: Pre-treatment and post-treatment symptom scores of the 60 childrens with adenoidal hypertrophy that were included in the study.
There was statistically significant decrease of an average 0.53 ± 0.79 units in the post-treatment nasal obstruction symptom scores, compared with pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). In the participating children, 61.7% (n=37) showed no improvement while 38.3% (n=23) had improvement (Table 2, Figure 1).
There was statistically significant decrease of an average 0.75 ± 0.57 units in the post-treatment rhinorrhea sytmptom scores compared with pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). In the participating patients, 31.7% (n=19) showed no improvement while 68.3% (n=41) had improvement (Table 2, Figure 1).
There was statistically significant decrease of an average 0.35 ± 0.66 units in the post-treatment cough sytmptom scores compared with pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). In the participating patients, 61.7 % (n=37) showed no improvement while 38.3% (n=23) had improvement (Table 2, Figure 1).
There was statistically significant decrease of an average 0.48 ± 0.57 units in the post-treatment snoring sytmptom scores compared with pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). In the participating patients, 48.3% (n=29) showed no improvement while 51.7% (n=31) had improvement (Table 2, Figure 1).
There was statistically significant decrease of an average 0.35 ± 0.61 units in the post-treatment sleep apnea sytmptom scores compared with pre-treatment scores (p<0.01). In the participating patients, 61.7% (n=37) showed no improvement while 37.3% (n=23) had improvement (Table 2, Figure 1).
There was a significant decrease in adenoid size endoscopically at the end of the therapy (Table 3; p=0.001). The 0.28 ± 0.49 units of mean decrease was statistically significant in the post-treatment endoscopy grades compared with pre-treatment endoscopy grades (p<0.01). In the participating patients, 73.3% (n=44) showed no improvement while 26.7 % (n=16) had improvement (Table 3).
The mean A/N ratio was 0.64 ± 0.10 before treatment and 0.61 ± 0.10 after treatment. The decrease in the posttreatment A/N ratio compared with pretreatment A/N ratio was statistically significant in patients participating this study (p<0.01). Twenty three children (38.3 % of this group) showed no improvement while 61.7% (n=37) had improvement (Table 4, Figure 2).
Figure 2: The distribution of the pre-treatment and posttreatment endoscopy and adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (A/N ratio).
The positive relationship at the level 68.8 % between pre-treatment endoscopy scores and A/N ratio measuremenst was statistically significant (r=0.688; p<0.01).
There was also statistically significant positive directional relationship at the level of 56.9% between post-treatment endoscopy scores and A/N ratio measurements (r=0.569; p<0.01) (Tables 5 and 6). As the pre-teratment endoscopic grade increased, A/N ratio levels also showed an increase (Figure 3). As the post-tratment endoscopic grade increased, A/N ratio levels also increased (Figure 3).
Figure 3: Pre-treatment and post-treatment endoscopy grades according to the adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio (A/N ratio).
Discussion
AH is one of the most frequent pathological conditions in the pediatric age group, the clinical manifestations of which differ according to adenoid size. Bilateral nasal obstruction is a primary complaint that can be associated with various sleep disorders, ranging from snoring to OSA14.
AH is also one of the most frequent indications for surgery in childhood and adenoidectomy is generally considered the definitive treatment for nasopharyngeal obstruction. As adjunctive treatments, few non-surgical alternatives that reduce adenoid size are available. Several authors have proposed the use of topical nasal steroids to decrease AH, with the intention of preserving immunologically active tissue and avoiding the risks of anesthesia and surgery inherent in adenoidectomy3,10,15-18. It is believed to be several mechanisms, such as direct lymphocytic action, inhibition of inflammation, and alterations inadenoid bacterial flora15. In this study, we aimed to assess the effects of azelastine therapy in children with adenoid hypertrophy. To our knowledge, no study of the use of topical azelastine for the treatment of AH has been published, so we evaluated the use of intranasal azelastine nasal spray for the treatment of AH. The use of a topical azelastine treatment has many advantages over a systemic treatment8. First, with a nasal spray, medication can be delivered directly to the site of the allergic inflammation. Second, higher concentrations of antihistamines can be achieved in the nasal mucosa by topical versus oral administration8. In controlled studies, azelastine nasal spray was well-tolerated for treatment durations up to 4 weeks in adults and children (≥12 years)19,20. In this study, Azelastine treatment was well-tolerated by all patients (age range: 6-14 years).
There have been various studies of finger palpation, transoral mirror adenoid examination, baseline lateral soft-tissue radiographs of the nasopharynx, and nasal endoscopy; these are commonly used to assess adenoid size14,21-25. In recent decades, technological advances have resulted in the development of flexible and rigid endoscopes with small diameters (2.7mm), which enable accurate nasal endoscopic examination with fewer complications. Nasofiberendoscopy is currently considered as the ‘gold standard’ examination for the evaluation of adenoid hypertrophy23. Fiberoptic and rigid endoscopic examinations is more effective in identifying AH26. However, fiberoptic and rigid endoscopic examinations of a child’s nasopharynx can be challenging and might not be appropriate for all patients. In some children, it is impossible to examine the nasopharynx due to patient non-cooperation27. Fujioka et al13 described the A/N ratio as an indicator of adenoidal size in 1979, and this method has since been adopted in many studies28. Thus, lateral nasopharyngeal radiography can be used to assess adenoidal size in children who will not cooperate with an endoscopic examination. Mlynarek et al29 reported that direct video rhinoscopy was better correlated with the severity of symptoms than values obtained by lateral neck radiography. Office nasal endoscopy offers several advantages over the lateral skull radiograph in the evaluation of adenoid hypertrophy. Eustachian tube and airway obstruction can be readily identified through nasal endoscopy in all 3 planes. The relationship of the adenoid to the adjacent torus tubaris, vomer, and soft palate can be easily evaluated in a dynamic fashion that allows for complete evaluation of the nasopharynx. In this study, we used lateral nasopharyngeal X-rays, nasal endoscopy, and symptom scores to assess adenoid hypertrophy. We examinated the correlation between lateral nasopharyngeal X-ray, nasal endoscopy and subjective symptoms. The results of lateral neck X-ray and nasal endoscopy showed good correlation with actual adenoid size. Caylaklı30 revealed significant correlation between A/N ratio and nasal endoscopic examination findings. The changes in A/N ratio and improvement of endoscopic findings showed a significant correlation in our study. As a result, this study suggests the use of endoscopic examination in assessing adenoid size in suitable patients because it avoids radiation exposure.
Our data indicate significant improvements in symptom scores, endoscopy, and A/N ratio in children with AH and allergic rhinitis after a 4-week trial of intranasal azelastine. Nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, cough, snoring, and obstructive sleep apnea improved significantly. In our study, 37 of 60 children decreased A/N ratio after 4 weeks course of treatment (p=0.001). Additionally, the rates of improvement of symptom scores, A/N ratio, and endoscopic examination were correlated, consistent with previous reports30. We think that this type of inflammation might exist in covering mucosa of adenoid which locates at narrowest area of upper airway. For this reason, application of topical azelastine for 4 weeks might reduce the inflammation of covering mucosa of adenoid.
In our study, 37 of 60 children (61.7%) who had been evaluated with lateral nasopharyngeal radiography showed a decreased A/N ratio after a 4-week course of treatment (p=0.001). There were significant differences in symptom scores, X-ray findings (A/N ratio), and nasal endoscopic grade in children with AH. These findings suggest that azelastine is a suitable treatment choice in selected patients.
The main limitation of the present study in that we could not establish a control group due to lack of consent. At the early period of this study parents and caregivers refused to participate in our study because they wanted early solution. Another important limitation is the lack of long term follow up. Patients were followed up for 3 months after they completed therapy. None of them complained from the severe symptoms as at the beginning of the study. Therefore we can claim that azelastine can bu used to delay operation date in necessary situations at least for 3 months.
Conclusion
This study reported the efficacy of Azelastine nasal spray for the treatment of AH in children. Intranasal azelastine therapy appears to be useful in the treatment of AH in the general pediatric population with AR.
Conflict of interest
There is no conflict of interest among authors.
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