INHIBITION OF HUMAN NEUTROPHIL ACTIN POLYMERIZATION, PHAGOCYTOSIS ANDOXIDATIVE BURST BY COMPONENTS OF DECONGESTIVE NOSEDROPS

Human neutrophil functions have been examined after exposure of leukoc ytes to components of decongestive nosedrops in vitro. Both the vasoac tive components oxymethazoline chloride and xylomethazoline chloride, as well as the preservative benzalkonium chloride, showed a concentrat ion- and time-dependent deleterious effect on neutrophil actin polymer ization, phagocytosis and oxidative burst. The most toxic of the drug components was benzalkonium chloride, which in the commercial nosedrop s tested was present in concentrations about 20 times higher than that compatible with intact neutrophil functions. These findings suggest p ossible inhibition of mucosal neutrophil activity following exposure t o nosedrops in vivo, and support earlier reports that have questioned the use of preservatives in decongestive nosedrops.