Asthma of the Sinuses

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I received a newsletter in the mail from the National Jewish Center. They

had a little article on Samters. I couldn¹t' find it on the web so I typed

it in.

Trial Seeks to Treat " Asthma of the Sinuses "

Many of the asthma patients referred to National Jewish suffer from a

particularly difficult combination of chronic sinusitis, asthma and nasal

polyps. On top of that, they are sensitive to aspirin, which causes both

their sinusitis and asthma to flare up. One patient said her sinuses get so

inflamed and congested after taking aspirin that her face " felt like

cement. " Many of these patients undergo several surgeries for sinusitis,

but rarely get long-term relief.

" These patients' sinusitis is particularly baffling, " said Associate

Professor of Medicine Rohit Katial, M.D. " There is painful swelling of the

sinuses, similar to asthma in the lungs. Some have referred to this

condition as 'asthma of the sinuses.' "

National Jewish physicians treat many of these patients by desensitizing

them to aspirin. Under close observation, they give the patients tiny

amounts of aspirin, then gradually give them increasing doses of the

medication over the course of two days. National Jewish is on of very few

centers in the country to offer aspirin desensitization. Patients report

not only that they are no longer sensitive to aspirin but also that their

sinusitis and asthma get better.

However, there have been no studies to objectively demonstrate that aspirin

desensitization works for these patients. National Jewish researchers, led

by Dr. Katial, are conducting a study to confirm that aspirin

desensitization does indeed improve patients' sinusitis and asthma. They

will also monitor numerous biological measures to better understand how it

works, and possibly, how this aspirin-induced respiratory disease arises.

" With definitive proof that aspirin desensitization works and how it works,

we may be able to further improve the treatment and convince more medical

centers that this is a good treatment for their patients, " said Dr. Katial.

How does it feel to be ahead of the top researchers at National Jewish. I

want a job application. I really want Dr. son to have a conversation

with Dr. Katial.

They also were bragging about antibiotics curing a bacteria caused asthma.

That came up here, too, about 6 months ago.

Pam

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