Subjects With Clinical Diagnosis of Allergic Rhinitis Were Randomly Divided Into 2 Groups, With Patients in One Group Given One Treatment Session of Red Light Rhinophototherapy, Followed by Medical Treatment. Those in the Second Group Were Treated With Medical Treatment Only.

Effect of Red Light Rhinophototherapy on Nasal Patency in Patients With Allergic Rhinitis

To investigate the short-term effects of red light rhinophototherapy on nasal patency in patients with a clinical diagnosis of allergic rhinitis using both active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Allergic Rhinitis; Phototherapy
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Transverse Many Channels Laser Instrument

Detailed Description

Patients experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis (AR)were collected. The clinical diagnosis of AR was established when patients presented themselves with a history and physical examination consistent with an allergic cause. Each candidate possessed at least one of the following symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, or sneezing. All patients underwent a specific IgE test against the common perennial inhaled allergens found in Taiwan (house dust mites, molds, cats, dogs and cockroaches) to confirm the diagnosis of AR. However, these results did not exclude the patients from this study because only a few allergens were tested. The severity of the rhinitis symptoms was assessed through use of a standardized score scale (1). A score of 0 (no symptoms), 1 (mild symptoms), 2 (moderate symptoms), to 3 (severe symptoms) was used to evaluate the severity of nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, and sneezing. Patients receiving a total score of 4 or more were enrolled in the study. Patients with age below 20 years old, severe nasal septum, rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis were excluded from the study. Those who had a history of immunodeficiency or previous sinus surgery, suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection, or took oral corticosteroids within a month prior to the study were also excluded.

Eligible patients were randomly divided into 2 groups. Randomization assignments were generated by an independent statistician. Patients in the study group were treated with one treatment session of red light rhinophototherapy (RLRPT) (40mW/nostril for 15 minutes) at the outpatient clinic after completing a nasal patency test using both active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. Upon completing RLRPT treatment, patients took a rest for 30 minutes. They were then asked about the severity of their rhinitis symptoms, and as to whether the overall level of change in those rhinitis symptoms was worse, unchanged, slightly improved, much improved or cured. Patients were also questioned about any adverse events of RLRPT before undergoing another nasal patency test. Finally, medical treatment involving an intranasal steroid (mometasone furoate nasal spray, 4 sprays, once a day), along with an oral antihistamine (levocetirizine 5 mg qd) was given for continued management of AR. Questions regarding the severity of each patient's rhinitis symptoms, the overall change in their rhinitis symptoms and any adverse events from RLRPT were asked via telephone communication 2 days later. Patients in the active control group were medically treated with an intranasal steroid (mometasone furoate nasal spray, 4 sprays, once a day), along with an oral antihistamine (levocetirizine 5 mg qd). Telephone calls were placed 2 days later in order to evaluate the severity of each patient's rhinitis symptoms, along with any overall change in rhinitis symptoms.

The device used for RLRPT was the Transverse Many Channels Laser Instrument (Transverse, Ind, Co., Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan). It uses a red gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser with wavelengths of 660+10 nm as a light source. The laser has a maximum power of 40 mW. The device consists of a control box and 4 sets of two light-emitting nasal probes. Prior to treatment, each patient put on a pair of black tinted glasses, and had the nasal probes gently placed into both nostrils. A turn-on switch on the control box activated the probe and the timer was set at 15 minutes during which time 36 J of light energy was delivered to each nostril.

The nasal patency was objectively measured by both active anterior rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. Anterior active rhinomanometry was performed according to the guidelines of the International Committee on Standardization of Rhinomanometry using a NR6 Rhinomanometer (GM Instruments, Ltd., Kilwinning, UK). All patients remained seated for 30 minutes to adapt to the hospital environment prior to testing. A face mask was worn tightly. The examination was performed during quiet breathing with a closed mouth, while the patient was in an upright sitting position. For each nostril, inspiratory nasal resistance was calculated over four inspiratory-expiratory cycles at a fixed pressure of 150 Pascal. Both the total nasal airflow resistance in Pa/cm3/s, and nasal airflow in cm3/s (sum of left and right) during inspiration were recorded.

An A1 Acoustic Rhinometer (GM Instruments, Ltd., Kilwinning, UK) was used to measure the geometry of the nasal cavity. All patients remained seated for at least 20 minutes in order to acclimatize to the hospital environment before testing. The nose piece was positioned parallel to the sagittal plane of the head at a 45° angle to the coronal plane, and was applied to produce an acoustic seal without distorting the outer nose. Patients were asked to hold their breath and avoid swallowing during the acquisition of the acoustic data. Three consecutive readings were taken to calculate an average value. An entire average acoustic rhinometry curve was generated for each nasal cavity. Acoustic data included: 1) the first minimal cross-sectional area (MCA1, cm2), 2) the second minimal cross sectional area (MCA2, cm2), 3) the volume between the tip of the nosepiece and 3.0 cm into the nasal cavity (V03, cm3), and 4) the volume of the nasal cavity between 2.0 and 5.0 cm from the tip of the nosepiece (V25, cm3). We used the average value of both sides to represent the data.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taichung, Taiwan, 40705
    • Taichung Veterans General Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of allergic rhinitis
• Patients possessing at least one of the following symptoms: nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, or sneezing
• Patients whose physical examination showing clear rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, pale discoloration of the nasal mucosa, or red and watery eyes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with age below 20 years old
• Patients with severe nasal septum, rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis
• Patients who had a history of immunodeficiency or previous sinus surgery
• Patients who suffered from an upper respiratory tract infection
• Patients who took oral corticosteroids within a month prior to the study

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: control
Experimental: intervention; Transverse Many Channels Laser Instrument	Device: Transverse Many Channels Laser Instrument; The device consists of a control box and 4 sets of two light-emitting nasal probes. Prior to treatment, each patient put on a pair of black tinted glasses, and had the nasal probes gently placed into both nostrils. A turn-on switch on the control box activated the probe and the timer was set at 15 minutes during which time 36 J of light energy was delivered to each nostril.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline in nasal resistance and nasal flow after red light Change from baseline in nasal resistance and nasal flow after red light rhinophototherapy	To compare the change from baseline in nasal resistance and nasal flow 30 minutes after red light rhinophototherapy by using active anterior rhinomanometry	before and 30 minutes after red light rhinophototherapy
Change from baseline in the first and second minimal cross sectional area, and the volumes between the tip and 3.0 cm from the tip of the nosepiece and between 2.0 and 5.0 cm from the tip of the nosepiece after red light rhinophototherapy	To compare the change from baseline in the first minimal cross sectional area of the nasal cavity, the second minimal cross sectional area of the nasal cavity, the nasal volume between the tip of the nosepiece and 3.0 cm into the nasal cavity, and the nasal volume of the nasal cavity between 2.0 and 5.0 cm from the tip of the nosepiece 30 minutes after red light rhinophototherapy by using acoustic rhinometry	before and 30 minutes after red light rhinophototherapy

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
rhinitis symptoms	The severity of the rhinitis symptoms was assessed through use of a standardized score scale (1). A score of 0 (no symptoms), 1 (mild symptoms), 2 (moderate symptoms), to 3 (severe symptoms) was used to evaluate the severity of nasal congestion, runny nose, itchy nose, and sneezing.	before red light rhinophototherapy, and 30 minutes and 2 days after red light rhinophototherapy

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Taichung Veterans General Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Rong-San Jiang, MD, PhD, Taichung Veterans General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jiang RS, Wang JJ. Effect of Red Light Rhinophototherapy on Nasal Patency in Patients with Allergic Rhinitis. Int J Otolaryngol. 2018 Dec 17;2018:6270614. doi: 10.1155/2018/6270614. eCollection 2018.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 2, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 27, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): June 30, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 17, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): November 26, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 26, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 21, 2018
• Last Verified: November 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: allergic rhinitis; acoustic rhinometry; active anterior rhinomanometry; red light rhinophototherapy
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Infections; Respiratory Tract Infections; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Nose Diseases; Rhinitis; Rhinitis, Allergic
• Other Study ID Numbers: CF18014A#1

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No