DETERMINATION OF PROLIFERATIVE ACTIVITY IN NASAL POLYPS

Aims-To determine the level of proliferative activity in 39 nasal poly ps with clear cut distinct clinical behaviour patterns. Methods-The 39 nasal polyps included 11 polyps labelled as ''single'' and taken from the lateral nasal wall and the middle turbinate; 12 polyps labelled a s ''massive'' and relating to diffuse polyposis involving the entire n asal cavity; six polyps labelled as ''ASA'' and relating to nasal poly ps from patients with acetylsalicylic acid intolerance and asthma; and 10 polyps from cystic fibrosis related polyposis. Cell proliferation was determined by two independent methods: first, the computer assiste d microscope analysis of isolated Feulgen stained nuclei for the measu rement of the percentage of cells in the S phase of the cell cycle; an d second, the immunohistochemical evaluation of a proliferation associ ated protein by means of the MIB 1 monoclonal antibody. Results-The cy stic fibrosis related polyposis exhibited the highest proliferative ac tivity of all the clinically identified nasal polyp groups. Acute infl ammatory nasal polyps exhibited a higher cell proliferation than chron ic ones. The results also show that while the immunohistochemical dete rmination of cell proliferation by means of the MIB 1 monoclonal antib ody is a valuable tool in determining cell proliferation in nasal poly ps, the cytometrical image analysis of Feulgen stained nuclei is not u seful for this purpose. Conclusion-Cell proliferation activity identif ies cystic fibrosis as being distinct from the other nasal polyp group s.