The effect of nasal douching by hypertonic 2.3 per cent sea water with algae extracts on the concentration of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor- and interleukin-8 in nasal secretions of patients with nasal polyposis following endoscopic surgical treatment

Objective: To investigate epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and interleukin-8 production in nasal mucosa irrigated with hypertonic 2.3 per cent solution with algae extracts, in comparison to 0.9 per cent NaCl during the first two weeks after surgery for nasal polyposis, in relation to symptoms and local findings. Methods: This prospective study included 20 nasal polyposis patients postoperatively irrigated with hypertonic solution and 20 nasal polyposis patients postoperatively irrigated with isotonic solution. We evaluated nasal symptom score, endoscopic score and mediator levels in nasal secretions before and after irrigation. Results: Following treatment, nasal symptom score and endoscopic score were significantly lower in the hypertonic solution group (p = 0.023; p < 0.001, respectively). The increase in the epidermal growth factor and the decrease in the transforming growth factor-alpha and interleukin-8 concentration were higher in the hypertonic group (p < 0.001 for all mediators). Conclusion: Irrigation with a hypertonic solution was found to be more effective than an isotonic solution in nasal mucosa reparation.