Arachidonic acid metabolites in antrochoanal polyp and nasal polyp associated with chronic paranasal sinusitis

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of arachidonic acid metab olites (AAMs) in the pathogenesis of antrochoanal polyp (ACP). Using high-p erformance liquid chromatography (HPLC), we assayed the tissue concentratio ns of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, leukotrienes (LTs) and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic aci ds (HETE). Concentrations of AAMs in ACP were compared with the level in th e control turbinate tissues and nasal polyps associated with chronic parana sal sinusitis (NPS). The concentrations of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were not signi ficantly different in the control turbinate, ACP and NPS groups. In ACP, co ncentrations of LTC4, 15-HETE and 12-HETE were significantly lower than in the control turbinate. The striking differences in the profile of AAMs betw een ACP and NPS included a lack of production of LTD4 and LTE4 in ACP, also detectable in NPS, and markedly lower concentrations of 15-HETE and 12-HET E in ACP. The results of this study indicate that decreased lipoxygenase pa thway products in arachidonic acid metabolism may be involved in the pathog enesis of ACP. However, in the pathogenesis of NPS, increased production of LTD4 and LTE4 may have an important role. Taken together, our results demo nstrate a difference in pathogenesis between ACP and NPS, particularly in t erms of arachidonic acid metabolism.