The purpose of this study is to determine the most effective route to administer steroids to patients with chronic sinusitis, specifically a type of chronic sinusitis not associated with nasal polyps (CRSsNP). The investigators would like to better understand whether orally administered steroids results in superior results when compared with nasally sprayed steroids. The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that for patients with radiographically proven CRSsNP, routine medical therapy consisting of a short course of systemic corticosteroids is superior to topical corticosteroids for relieving inflammation and the symptoms of CRS.
Chronic sinus infections (chronic sinusitis or CRS) are common conditions that affect millions of Americans. While this is a common disorder, medical treatments for this condition vary a lot and little is known how and why different treatments work in some individuals and not in others. Some physicians commonly utilize a course of oral steroid therapy similar to treatment of inflammatory conditions including asthma and arthritis. Other physicians feel that oral steroids are not more effective than nasal steroid sprays in reducing inflammation and prefer prescribing nasal steroids. There is no conclusive data as to whether oral or sprayed nasal steroids are more effective in providing long-term benefit to patients. Nasal steroids are FDA approved to treat some types of chronic sinusitis but oral steroids are FDA approved medications that are used to treat inflammatory conditions but is not specifically indicated for chronic sinusitis and thus should be regarded as investigational drug. The purpose of this research study is to better understand whether orally administered steroids results in superior results when compared with nasally sprayed steroids. The investigators will compare patients with chronic sinusitis who are first treated with antibiotics and oral steroids, and compare them to chronic sinusitis patients who receive antibiotics and nasally sprayed steroid therapy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
9
Three-week course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic Amoxicillin/Clavulanate at a daily dosage of 875mg twice daily If the subject is allergic to Penicillin and its derivatives or has had an adverse reaction to Amoxicillin/Clavulanate, a three-week course of clarithromycin instead Antihistamines if an appropriate history of atopy is obtained Systemic prednisone: Starting dose of 40mg for five days followed by a taper decreasing by 10mg every 5 days Following completion of the oral corticosteroid: Course of topical mometasone until the end of the study
Three-week course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic Amoxicillin/Clavulanate at a daily dosage of 875mg twice daily If the subject is allergic to Penicillin and its derivatives or has had an adverse reaction to Amoxicillin/Clavulanate, a three-week course of clarithromycin instead Antihistamines if an appropriate history of atopy is obtained Standing course of topical mometasone at the standard dose of 2 sprays to each nostril once daily and will remain on the topical mometasone until the end of the study.
: Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation (NMFF) Sinus and Allergy Center
Chicago, Illinois, United States
SNOT-22 Questionnaire
The Sino-nasal Outcome Test-22 is a validated questionnaire that measures 22 nasal and quality of life symptoms ("nasal obstruction" and "loss of smell and taste") ranked from 0 (not a problem) to 5 (problem as bad as it can be). Min score= 0, Max score= 110 ("worst possible problem" on all symptoms) Change from baseline of the SNOT-22 score. The SNOT-22 questionnaire is a 22-item disease-specific health related quality of life instrument validated for use in chronic rhinosinusitis.
Time frame: 4-6 weeks and 3 months after initiation of treatment
Lund-McKay Score From CT Scan
Change from baseline in Lund-McKay scores from sinus CT-scans at 4-6 weeks and 3 months after initiation of treatment will be used to calculate the overall level of inflammation within the paranasal sinuses.
Time frame: 4-6 weeks and 3 months after initiation of treatment
Taskforce Symptom Inventory
Change from baseline in individual symptom severity. The taskforce symptom inventory is a visual analog scale of the severity of the 4 major symptoms making up the clinical diagnostic criteria of CRS.
Time frame: 4-6 weeks and 3 months after initiation of treatment
Medication Side-effect and Compliance Inventory
The medication side-effect and compliance inventory is a questionnaire to evaluate the frequency and severity of common side effects associated with the medications used in this study.
Time frame: 4-6 weeks and 3 months after initiation of treatment
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