Influence of personal factors on nasal patency and lavage biomarkers in white-collar workers

Large biological variability between subjects has been shown for both acous tic rhinometry and nasal lavage biomarker concentrations, but relatively li ttle is known about the influence of personal factors on these techniques T he aim was to evaluate if nasal symptoms, acoustic rhinometric measurements and nasal lavage fluid biomarkers are related to age, gender, smoking, ato py or asthma. A standardized nasal investigation was applied in 411 white-c ollar workers, belonging to three occupational groups: school personnel (n= 234) office workers (n=89) and hospital workers (n=88). Lavage fluid analys is included determination of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) myeloperoxid ase (MPO), lysozyme and albumin. Females had smaller nasal dimensions in th e anterior part of the nose (p<0.001), and lower lavage fluid concentration s of ECP (p=0.004), MPO (p=0.002), and albumin (p=0.01). Rhinometric dimens ions or lavage fluid biomarker concentrations were not related to age, smok ing, atopy or asthma. Some differences in rhinometric and biomarker measure ments were observed between the occupational groups, and adjustment was mad e for occupation. Rhinometric measures and lavage biomarkers were consisten tly interrelated, which suggests a combined mucosal swelling and inflammato ry reaction. This indicates a potential usefulness of a combined use of aco ustic rhinometry and lavage biomarkers to study nasal mucosal reactions.