Free radical damage in nasal polyp tissue

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the free radical injury in nasal polyp ti ssue exists or not. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study in patients with nasal polyps, METHODS: Polyp specimens were obtained from 19 patients. Control specimens were acquired from 16 patients who underwent partial turbinectomy with conc ha bullosa free of rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergy confirmed by endoscopic nasal examination, coronal paranasal sinus CT scan, and prick test. MDA le vels of nasal polyps and control specimens were measured by using the metho d of Knudsen et al, RESULTS: The mean MDA levels of nasal polyps and control specimens were 38. 2 +/- 5.1 (33.3-52.2) and 33.9 +/- 1.6 (32.6-37.4), respectively. MDA level s in NP were significantly higher compared with control specimens (P < 0.01 ). CONCLUSION: High level of MDA in nasal polyp tissue that represents FR incr ease supports the existence of cell injury in nasal polyp tissue. FRs shoul d be considered in the development and life cycles of NP which is thought t o have multifactorial pathogenesis.