Quality of life of patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis: Effects of filgrastim treatment

In this double-blind placebo-controlled randomized Clinical trial, we inves tigated the influence of filgrastim administration on the quality of life ( QOL) of refractory chronic sinusitis patients who did not respond to regula r treatments. QOL was considered to be an important outcome measurement bec ause apart from classic sinusitis parameters, it measures the overall burde n of the symptomatology of chronic sinusitis patients caused by general mal aise, tiredness, and social impediments. The QOL of 56 patients was assesse d five times during the 24-week trial with the EuroQol, the Short Form (SF) -36, and the McGill pain questionnaire (MPQ). The QOL scores were all well below population noon scores and scores in a group of patients with chronic sinusitis who had sinus surgery QOL scores of the filgrastim group suggest ed a better QOL than the placebo group, although none of the differences we re statistically significant. There were indications that it might be possi ble to determine a subpopulation in which the results are better. Although the QOL measurements were not able to show a significant treatment effect o f filgrastim in this group of patients with refractory chronic sinusitis, t hese measurements are important in studying chronic sinusitis because they enable the comparison of the burden of illness of patients with chronic sin usitis with other patient groups.