Clinical characteristics and cytokine profiles of central-compartment-type chronic rhinosinusitis

Background: The clinical characteristics of central-compartment-type chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in East Asian individuals are not clear. We sought to investigate the clinical features and the cytokine profiles of central-compartment-type CRS in our patient group.

Methods: Adult patients diagnosed with bilateral CRS were recruited, and patients who had previously undergone sinus surgery and pansinusitis (Lund-Mackay scores >23) were excluded. Central-compartment-type CRS was defined by both endoscopic and radiological features. The symptoms, inhalant allergen sensitization status, endoscopic findings, and radiological assessments were recorded and compared between patients with central-compartment-type CRS and other types of CRS. We also examined the extent of tissue eosinophilia and specific cytokine protein levels (eosinophil cationic protein [ECP], myeloperoxidase [MPO], immunoglobulin E [IgE], interleukin [IL]-4, IL-5, and IL-13) in the sinonasal tissues.

Results: Central-compartment-type CRS was found in 16 (23.9%) patients, and non-central-compartment-type CRS was found in 51 (76.1%) patients. Hyposmia or anosmia as the major symptom was more common in the central-compartment-type CRS group. The numbers of eosinophils in tissue and serum were significantly higher in the central-compartment-type CRS patients. The presence of allergen sensitization was not significantly different between groups. The levels of IL-5 and IL-13 were increased in middle turbinate tissues of patients with central-compartment-type CRS.

Conclusion: Central-compartment-type CRS was associated with hyposmia or anosmia, eosinophilic subtypes, and elevated levels of IL-5 and IL-13 in middle turbinate tissues but not necessarily correlated with allergic disease in our patients.