Nasal Blockage Induced by Oral Administration of Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in a Guinea-Pig Model of Allergic Rhinitis

Abstract

To elucidate the mechanisms underlying nasal symptoms in patients with aspirin hypersensitivity, we evaluated the effects of orally administered non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the nasal patency of guinea pigs with cedar pollen–induced chronic allergic rhinitis. Indomethacin (10 mg/kg) administered 1 h before a pollen challenge amplified the antigen-induced nasal blockage. More interestingly, even in the absence of the pollen challenge, indomethacin induced nasal blockage at 30 min at 4 h after administration. However, indomethacin-induced nasal blockage was not provoked in non-sensitized animals. Another NSAID, diclofenac (30 mg/kg), also evoked nasal blockage, but unexpectedly, aspirin (500 mg/kg) did not affect nasal patency. Indomethacin-induced nasal blockage was unaffected by a cysteinyl leukotriene receptor (CysLT1 receptor) antagonist, pranlukast (30 mg/kg, p.o.), or by prostaglandin E2 (10− M, intranasal), suggesting that the nasal blockage may not be due to hyperproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes or inhibition of prostaglandin E2 production. These results indicate that the indomethacin-induced nasal blockage may not be an identical phenomena to airway symptoms in aspirin hypersensitivity patients. However, because chronic nasal inflammation is indispensable for the development of nasal blockage, indomethacin-induced nasal blockage may become a clue to elucidate new mechanisms underlying hypersensitivity to NSAIDs. Keywords:: nasal blockage, indomethacin, aspirin, cysteinyl leukotriene, prostaglandin E2