Abstract
A multicenter study was undertaken in 12 institutions to determine the clinical effect of Neuzym® in patients with chronic sinusitis. The drug was administered for 8 weeks, and the changes in subjective symptoms and rhinoscopic and X-ray findings were determined. The improvement of the radio-opacity in the maxillary sinus was also objectively assessed by densitometry with the Copper-Step-Wedge System.
After 4 weeks of treatment 29.1% of the patients showed good or moderate general improvement and 84.3% showed slight, moderate or good improvement. After 8 weeks of treatment the figures were 39.7% and 85.7%, respectively. The subjective symptoms and rhinoscopic findings were better after 8 weeks than after 4 weeks of treatment.
The X-ray findings of the maxillary sinus, interpreted by gross inspection, showed slight improvement in 33.5% of the patients after 4 weeks of treatment and in 34.6% after 8 weeks. The radio-opacity of the maxillary sinus, as assessed by densitometry with the Copper-Step-Wedge System, showed a more favorable response than the gross X-ray findings: improvement in 49.4% of patients after 4 weeks and in 57.0% after 8 weeks of treatment. The difference between the two assessments may be accounted for by the higher precision of the Copper-Step-Wedge System. In a few cases, there were opposite assessments.
None of the patients had any side effects of Neuzym® therapy. Neuzym® was assessed to be very or moderately effective in 45.1% and very moderately or slightly effective in 86.3%. Thus, Neuzym® can be recommended for chronic sinusitis.
