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Volume: 51 - Issue: 4

First page: 323 - Last page: 327

J. Hoza - R. Salzman - I. Stárek - P. Schalek - R. Kellnerová

DOI: 10.4193/Rhin

BACKGROUND: Erdosteine was originally developed as a mucolytic agent. It is a multimechanism substance with anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and most importantly anti-inflammatory effects. Given similar mechanisms of action (suppression of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α), it could become a reasonable alternative to currently used treatments with macrolides or steroids.
OBJECTIVE: To assess efficacy and safety of erdosteine in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP).
METHODOLOGY: A prospective non-interventional post-authorisation study comparing patients treated with erdosteine only or the combination of erdosteine and nasal corticosteroid spray for CRSwNP. The end-points were pre- and post-treatment changes in endoscopic score and subjective evaluation of CRSwNP related symptoms using a 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test questionnaire. Patients underwent nasal endoscopy and filled the questionnaire before and after the treatment.
RESULTS: No patient experienced any adverse effect during the study. A comparison of pre- and post-treatment endoscopic findings and questionnaire values revealed significant reduction in both patient groups, with a significantly better response in the erdosteine only group.
CONCLUSION: Based on this pilot study, erdosteine seems effective in the treatment of CRSwNP and might become a reasonable alternative to currently used medication. The therapeutical role of erdosteine needs to be further assessed.

Rhinology 51-4: 323-327, 2013