Nasal pH measurement: a reliable and repeatable parameter

The nasal mucosal pH is approximate to 5.5-6.5, and increases in rhinitis t o 7.2-8.3. This knowledge has not led to the widespread measurement of the nasal mucosal pH as an objective clinical parameter. The pur-pose of this s tudy was to assess whether repeatable measures of nasal mucosal pH could be obtained in the clinical setting. Fifty-four adults without nasal symptoms were prospectively recruited. Using a semi-disposable antimony pH catheter , the nasal mucosal pH was measured in four specific areas of the nose and each reading repeated three times. The patients' age, sex, smoking habits, nasal anatomical variation and dearest nostril at the time of measurement w ere also recorded. The data shows that it is possible to obtain reliable an d repeatable values for the pH of the nasal mucosa (Spearman-Brown R = 0.84 ). Analysis shows there is no significant difference between septal and tur binate mucosal pH. Subset analysis implies that nasal mucosal pH is higher in men then women (P < 0.05). The other variables did not affect the nasal mucosal pH significantly.