Intranasal Phototherapy is an Effective Treatment in Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

RATIONALE: We have recently found that intranasal phototherapy using a combination of low dose UVB, UVA and visible light (mUV/VIS) improves allergic rhinitis. The aim of the present study was to provide further data on the efficacy of rhinophototherapy and to study the mechanism of action of mUV/VIS light.METHODS: In an open study, intranasal phototherapy was performed in 70 patients with ragweed-induced allergic rhinitis. Each intranasal cavity was irradiated 3 times a week for 2 weeks, using gradually increasing doses of mUV/VIS. Evaluation was based on clinical symptom scores. The effect of mUV/VIS light on T cell, eosinophil and basophil apoptosis was also evaluated in vitro using cell cultures.RESULTS: Intranasal phototherapy significantly decreased scores for sneezing (p < 0.001), rhinorrhea (p < 0.001), nasal itching (p < 0.001), nasal obstruction (p < 0.001) and total nasal score (p < 0.001). In the overall efficacy assessment 90% of the patients found that phototherapy significantly inhibited the clinical symptoms. Rhinophototherapy was tolerated well, the only side effect was dryness of the nasal mucosa, which was controlled with emollients. mUV/VIS irradiation induced a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis of memory T cells, naive T cells, eosinophils but not basophils.CONCLUSIONS: These data support that intranasal phototherapy is effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and the mechanism of action is at least partly attributed to apoptosis induction of cells with important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. RATIONALE: We have recently found that intranasal phototherapy using a combination of low dose UVB, UVA and visible light (mUV/VIS) improves allergic rhinitis. The aim of the present study was to provide further data on the efficacy of rhinophototherapy and to study the mechanism of action of mUV/VIS light. METHODS: In an open study, intranasal phototherapy was performed in 70 patients with ragweed-induced allergic rhinitis. Each intranasal cavity was irradiated 3 times a week for 2 weeks, using gradually increasing doses of mUV/VIS. Evaluation was based on clinical symptom scores. The effect of mUV/VIS light on T cell, eosinophil and basophil apoptosis was also evaluated in vitro using cell cultures. RESULTS: Intranasal phototherapy significantly decreased scores for sneezing (p < 0.001), rhinorrhea (p < 0.001), nasal itching (p < 0.001), nasal obstruction (p < 0.001) and total nasal score (p < 0.001). In the overall efficacy assessment 90% of the patients found that phototherapy significantly inhibited the clinical symptoms. Rhinophototherapy was tolerated well, the only side effect was dryness of the nasal mucosa, which was controlled with emollients. mUV/VIS irradiation induced a dose-dependent increase in apoptosis of memory T cells, naive T cells, eosinophils but not basophils. CONCLUSIONS: These data support that intranasal phototherapy is effective for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and the mechanism of action is at least partly attributed to apoptosis induction of cells with important role in the pathogenesis of the disease.