GLUTATHIONE IN THE UPPER RESPIRATORY-TRACT

Glutathione (GSH), a major extracellular antioxidant, has been found i n high concentrations in the epithelial lining fluid of the lower resp iratory tract. The GSH concentrations in nasal fluid, in normal and pa thologic conditions, were investigated and found to be very low. A GSH aerosol (600 mg daily for 10 days) increased GSH levels in the nasal mucosa and induced a statistically significant improvement in nasal ob struction, rhinorrhoea, and ear fullness. Thus, GSH administered by ae rosol could be a means of defending the epithelial respiratory cells a gainst a toxic oxidant.