ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: It is known that various inflammatory mediators released from the eosinophils and mast cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of nasal polyp. Among those mediators, the arachidonic acid has particular importance as a precursor of other mediators. By assaying the tissue concentration of the6-keto-PGF(1alpha), leukotrienes (LTs), and hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETE) in the nasal polyp, we aimed to investigate the role of arachidonic acid metabolite in the pathogenesis of antrochoanal polyp and nasal polyp associated with chronic paranasal sinusitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Three turbinate tissues taken during the septoplasty were served as the control. The experimental group consisted of 3 antrochoanal polyps and 7 inflammatory polyps. The tissue level of the 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), LTC(4), LTD(4), LTE(4), 15-HETE, and 12-HETE were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The level of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha), LTC4, 15-HETE, 12-HETE were significantly lower in antrochoanal polyp than in the control turbinate. In the inflammatory polyp, the levels of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) and LTC(4) were lower than the control. However, in the inflammatory polyp, LTD(4) and LTE(4) were detectable, which were not detected in the control turbinate and antrochoanal polyp. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that the decreased arachidonic acid metabolism may underlie the pathogenesis of the antrochoanal polyp. However, in the pathogenesis of inflammatory polyp, the increased production of LTD(4) and LTE(4) may have an important role.