Hemoglobin concentration (IHb) in the human nasal mucosa was measured as an indicator of mucosal blood volume with a spectrophotometric analyzer, and nasal blood flow (BF) was measured with a laser speckle flowmeter.
IHb and BF in the nasal mucosa, so f t palate, and posterior wall of the mesopharynx were compared. In normal subjects, both IHb and BF were highest in the nasal mucosa.
IHb and BF in patients with various pathological conditions were compared. IHb in the nasal mucosa was higher in patients with chronic sinusitis and those with chronic pharyngitis, and lower in those with allergic rhinitis and those with abnormal sensation in the throat. BF in the nasal mucosa was higher in patients with chronic pharyngitis, and lower in those with allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, or abnormal sensation in the throat. IHb in the soft palate showed no significant differences on the basis of pathological condition, and BF in the soft palate was higher only in patients with allergic rhinitis. IHb in the posterior wall of the mesopharynx was higher in patients with chronic pharyngitis, and BF there was higher in patients with chronic pharyngitis and in those with allergic rhinitis.
IHb was measured before and after total laryngectomy, and was found to d ecrease following operation. Nasal resistance and IHb were measured simultaneously; it was found that some normal subjects showed cyclic changes in nasal resistance and IHb. Simultaneous measurement of bilateral nasal IHb showed that some normal subjects showed cyclic changes. It was considered that the change of nasal blood volume was the main cause of these nasal cycles. IHb increased during hyperventilation or upon changing from a supine to lateral position, and decreased during breathholding, during mental exertion or upon changing from a supine to sitting position.
The influenc e of drugs on IHb was studied. IHb was increased by administration of methacholine, histamine, or substance P, and was decreased by administration of tetrahydrozoline, phenylephrine, or oxymetazoline.
It is concluded that measurement of both IHb and BF is useful in assessing mucosal microcirculation in the human nose, and that IHb level reflects blood volume in capacitance vessels.

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