IN-VITRO EXPERIMENTS ON THE INFLUENCE OF TOPICAL CORTICOSTEROIDS AND ANTIHISTAMINES ON CILIATED CELLS OF HUMAN NASAL-MUCOSA

A normal ciliary beat frequency of ciliated cells is necessary for the mucociliary clearance of the nose and paranasal sinuses. An in vitro investigation war performed to evaluate the influence of topical corti costeroids and antihistamines on the ciliary beat frequency of human n asal mucosa. The nasal sprays examined contained the corticosteroids b udesonide or fluticasone propionate and the topical antihistamines aze lastine or levocabastine. All tests were performed on cell cultures of human nasal mucosa during constant conditions. Three of the four nasa l sprays tested contained benzalkonium chloride as preservative. An ir reversible cessation of ciliary movement was observed in all cells exp osed to nasal sprays containing benzalkonium chloride in a 50 per cent solution. The nasal spray containing budesonide was benzalkonium chlo ride-free and caused minor but fully reversible decreases in ciliary b eat frequency after 20 min. As benzalkonium chloride can cause complet e standstill of ciliary beat frequency in vitro in human nasal mucosa, we recommend that this preservative should not be used anymore in top ical nasal medications.