Evaluation of nasal obstruction in allergic rhinitis

Abstract

The number of patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) has increased globally. In Japan, more than 40% of the people are affected with AR. Although it is not a life-threatening illness, it is important to control AR because it directly correlates with the patient’s quality of life. Surgical treatment is considered for managing severe cases and those with ineffective conservative therapy. According to the Japanese Guidelines for AR, surgical treatment is recommended for patients with severe AR and nasal obstruction caused by thickening of the inferior turbinate and a deviated nasal septum. There are many methods and equipment for measuring nasal airflow; however, there is no consensus regarding the results of previous clinical studies on nasal obstruction. In this review, we described the relationship between the anatomical and physiological factors of the nasal cavity that affect nasal obstruction, and the implementation of the two major evaluation methods and examinations in Japan. Rhinomanometry is the physiological examination of nasal airway breathing, whereas acoustic rhinometry is the anatomical examination. In addition, we introduced several clinical studies on AR and evaluation methods for patients with nasal valve stenosis.