Investigation of the presence of pregnancy rhinitis in the third trimester with rhinomanometry

Abstract

Aim: Pregnancy rhinitis (PR) is characterized with nasal symptoms during pregnancy without any signs of respiratory infection and it usually disappears within 2 weeks after delivery. We aimed to investigate the relationship between pregnancy rhinitis and findings derived from anterior rhinoscopy (AnR), anterior rhinomanometry (ARM) and subjective nasal obstruction score (SNOS).

Methods: This prospective, controlled study was performed in otorhinolaryngology and obstetrics and gynecology departments of our tertiary care center. A total of 30 pregnant women in the third trimester and 30 non-pregnant women were involved. All participants underwent otorhinolaryngology examination, as well as clinical evaluation for AnR, ARM and SNOS.

Results: Pregnancy rhinitis was detected in 66.7% of the pregnant women. The mean AnR was 3.60 ± 1.35 in pregnant women and 0.77 ± 0.73 in the control group. Total nasal inspiratory resistance (TNID) was 0.46±0.23 in pregnant women and 0.27±0.06 in the control group. The mean SNOS was 1.37±0.72 in pregnant women and 0.57±0.63 in the control group. AnR, ARM and SNOS findings were significantly higher in pregnant women (p<0.05). There is a low positive and significant correlation between AnR, ARM, and SNOS values in pregnant women (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Our data yielded that nasal obstruction and pregnancy rhinitis were common in pregnant women.  Nasal symptoms and complaints must be carefully examined during pregnancy. Further prospective, controlled, randomized trials on larger series are warranted to elucidate the clinical and pathophysiological features of pregnancy rhinitis.