Narrow-band red light photography in perennial

allergic rhinitis and nasal polyposis

Ittai neuman, MD and Yehuda Finkelstein, MD

Background: Allergic rhinitis and nasal polyposis are common nasal diseases,
but the available treatment modalities have only limited success.

Objective: To assess the therapeutic affect of low-energy narrow-band red
light phototherapy on nasal clinic symptoms of allergic rhinitis and nasal polyposis.

Methods: In a double-bind randomized prospective study, 50 patients with
allergic rhinitis and 10 with nasal polyposis received intranasal illumination
at 660 nm for 4.4 minutes three times a day for 14 days (total dose 6 joules per day).
Twenty-nine rhinitic patients and one patient with polyposis received equivalent
sham illumination as placebo. Evaluation was based on symptom scores and a
clinical assessment that included pre-treatment and post-treatment videotaped
rigid and flexible nasendoscopy.

Results: Following treatment, improvement of symptoms was reported by 72%
of the allergic rhinitis patients and objective improvement was endoscopically
demonstrated in 70% of them as compared with 24% and 3%, respectively,
in the placebo group. These differences were significant. No improvement was
obtained in any of the patients with polyposis.

Conclusions: Allergic rhinitis, if uncomplicated by polyps or chronic sinusitis,
can be effectively treated by narrow-band red light illumination of the nasal
mucosa at 660 nm, with marked alleviation of clinical symptoms. Whenever
possible, candidates for phototherapy should be selected by endoscopic examination.

Reference: Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, April, 1997 Vol. 78, No. 4

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