Intranasal Phototherapy in the Patients with Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Phototherapy has a profound immuno- suppressive effect and is widely used for the treatment of immune- mediated skin diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intranasal phototherapy in treating patients with perennial allergic rhinitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a study on 19 patients with perennial allergic rhinitis from January 2008 to July 2008. Each intranasal cavity was illuminated three times in the first week and then once a week the following five weeks. Symptom scores and Rhinoconjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) were assessed. RESULTS: Phototherapy was well tolerated by the patients and resulted in a significant improvement of clinical symptoms for rhinorrhea, nasal obstruction, nasal itching, sneezing and total nasal score. In addition, significant improvements were achieved for itching of eyes, itching of the palate and total non-nasal symptom score except tearing and redness of eyes. After six weeks, the overall RQLQ scores significantly improved by 51% from the baseline in the treatment. CONCLUSION: These Results suggest that phototherapy is an effective modality for treating clinical symptoms of perennial allergic rhinitis and represents an alternative treatment for perennial allergic rhinitis.