The purpose of this study is to determine whether a hereditary factor
exists for nasal polyps. Fifty patients (27 male, 23 female; age range
14-86 years) had a personal history of nasal polyps. These were confi
rmed by physician reports, polypectomy pathology reports, or direct vi
sualization. These 50 patients were questioned concerning the existenc
e of a familial history (parents, siblings, or children) of nasal poly
ps. A control group of 30 patients without nasal polyps was obtained b
y matching sex, age, personal history of atopy, and allergy skin test
results to patients with a personal history of nasal polyps. Familial
history of nasal polyps was obtained from the control group by direct
interview. Seven of so (14%) of the group with nasal polyps had a fami
lial history of nasal polyps. Of those seven, three patients had more
than one immediate family member with a positive family history (two p
atients with two family members (sister; mother; 2 sisters) and one pa
tient with three family members (3 brothers)). Among the control group
, 0 of 30 (0%) had a familial history of nasal polyps. This difference
is statistically significant (P value is 0.0414). This study suggests
that there exists a hereditary factor for development of nasal polyps
.