ONE-YEAR FOLLOW-UP OF PATIENTS WITH RHINITIS MEDICAMENTOSA AFTER VASOCONSTRICTOR WITHDRAWAL

The aim of the study was to systematically follow-up 10 patients with rhinitis medicamentosa for at least 1 year after vasoconstrictor withd rawal. During withdrawal of the decongestants the patients used budeso nide nasal spray, 400 mu g/day, for 6 weeks. The thickness of the nasa l mucosa, the decongestive effect of oxymetazoline, and the histamine sensitivity were measured with rhinostereometry during the period. The thickness of the nasal mucosa and the symptom scores of nasal stuffin ess were reduced considerably 6 and 22 months after vasoconstrictor wi thdrawal. The histamine sensitivity reflecting nasal hyperreactivity w as still increased after 6 months, but not after 1 year. The decongest ive effect of oxymetazoline increased after 6 months, indicating rever sible tolerance. We conclude that when given adequate treatment and in formation about nose-drop over-use, all patients were able to stop usi ng the vasoconstrictors and no one relapsed into a daily long-term ove ruse of vasoconstrictors during the 1-year follow-up period.