PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

E Holopainen

Publications and source records attributed to E Holopainen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Long-term clinical course of hypersensitive rhinitis.

Information on the long-term clinical course of hypersensitive rhinitis was collected among 180 patients who had previously participated in an allergological study. The time period between the initial study and the follow-up questionnaire study was about 18.2 years. Of the patients, 72 were men and 108 women, aged 3.6-69.3 years (mean age 28.5 years) at the time of the initial study. Initially, atopic rhinitis had been verified by allergological investigations in 61.7% while 38.3% of the cases had been designated as intrinsic. During the 18-year period symptoms decreased in severity in 37.2% and ceased completely in 27.2%. Total disappearance of symptoms was more frequent in the intrinsic than in the atopic group.

Follow-Up Studies↗
PubMed1991

A comparison between intranasal budesonide aerosol and budesonide dry powder in the treatment of hay fever symptoms.

Sixty patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis due to birch pollen were enrolled in an open, randomized parallel group study. Efficacy and side effects were studied after intranasal administration of budesonide given as a freon propellant aerosol or as dry powder with a sniff actuated inhalation device. Medication started a few days before the actual peak pollen season and lasted for three weeks. The dose was 400 micrograms once daily. Efficacy was assessed daily by patient-rated symptoms scores and by nasal peak inspiratory flow measurements at the visits to the clinic. Safety was assessed by monitoring clinical adverse events. No clear changes in nasal symptom scores or nasal peak flow occurred during the pollen season in either treatment group as compared to the pretreatment period, although the pollen season was very difficult in Finland during the study, ad 12000 grains per m3. Substantial or total control of symptoms was achieved in 93% of the patients in the aerosol group and in 79% in the powder group. Side effects were minimal in both groups. We conclude that dry powder administration of budesonide is as effective and well tolerated as the aerosol in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1989

Terfenadine with or without phenylpropanolamine in the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The efficacy of terfenadine in combination with phenylpropanolamine was assessed by comparison with terfenadine alone in a double-blind, parallel group study of 66 patients with nasal birch pollen allergy. The patients were allocated randomly into two groups; 34 patients received terfenadine (60 mg) twice daily and 32 patients a combination tablet containing terfenadine (60 mg) and phenylpropanolamine (50 mg) twice daily for 17 days during the birch pollen season. Nasal symptoms (sneezing, discharge, itching and blockage) were relieved significantly by both drugs, but control of symptoms was more rapid and better with the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine combination. Rhinoscopic evaluation of nasal secretion and mucosal swelling showed no differences between the treatment groups. Compared with pre-season values, nasal peak expiratory flow (PEF)-values worsened significantly during the season in the terfenadine, but not in the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine, group. The general condition of the patients was significantly better in the terfenadine-phenylpropanolamine group. There were no marked side-effects in either group. At the end of the trial some of the patients in both treatment groups still had symptoms; this is apparently due to the long-lasting and severe pollen season. It is concluded that terfenadine combined with phenylpropanolamine gives better control of seasonal allergic rhinitis than terfenadine alone.

Benzhydryl Compounds↗
PubMed1989

Recurrence of nasal polyps after surgical treatment.

Recurrence of nasal polyposis after polypectomy or ethmoidectomy was studied in 85 patients four years after surgery. The patients were classified into one of three groups according to clinical findings: an atopy group (history confirmed by skin test or nasal provocation), an acetylsalicylic acid intolerance (ASA) group (confirmed by provocation), or an "intrinsic" group (no specific diagnosis). The risk of recurrence was significantly greater in patients with ASA intolerance than in the other two patient groups; the frequency of reoperations during the follow-up period was significantly higher in the ASA group and the need for topical corticosteroid treatment had also been more frequent. Bronchial asthma was diagnosed in 40% of all patients. Asthma was significantly more often associated with ASA group (91%) vs 46% at AT and in only 16% at INTR group.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed1987

Ordinary and high-dose ipratropium in perennial nonallergic rhinitis.

The aim of the present study was to test the efficacy of the topically active cholinoceptor antagonist, ipratropium, in the treatment of rhinorrhea in perennial nonallergic rhinitis, with special reference to identification of subgroups of responders and increased efficacy from high-dose therapy. Thirty-six adult patients with watery rhinorrhea as a dominant symptom completed the study, which consisted of a 2-week run-in period followed by two 3-week treatment periods with placebo and ipratropium in an ordinary dosage (80 micrograms four times a day) in a double-blind, crossover design, and, finally, an open 2-week period with high-dose therapy (400 micrograms four times a day). The number of nose blowings was 47% lower during treatment with ipratropium in the ordinary dosage than during the placebo period (p less than 0.001). There was an additional reduction during high-dose therapy that was slight but statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Ipratropium had no effect on the number of sneezes or on nasal blockage index. During ordinary-dose therapy, side effects were slight and confined to the nose, whereas the high-dose therapy caused unpleasant nasal dryness and, in a few cases, systemic side effects. It was not possible to separate responders from nonresponders by case history, physical examination, or nasal methacholine testing. It is concluded that intranasal ipratropium is effective in the treatment of watery rhinorrhea in perennial nonallergic rhinitis and that 320 micrograms a day is sufficient in most patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Balanced physiological saline in the treatment of chronic rhinitis.

The effects of a special balanced physiological saline on nasal symptoms of 93 patients with chronic rhinitis were studied. The main diagnoses of the patients were allergic rhinitis, atrophic rhinitis and ozaena, rhinitis sicca, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyposis and postoperative condition after nasal surgery. The tested solution was administered by a simple metered dose pump. 85 (91%) of the patients reported beneficial effects of the tested solution on nasal symptoms. In addition, 22 (71%) of those patients who used continuous anti-allergic medication, mainly intranasal steroids, reported that the tested solution improved the efficacy of their ordinary drug. So the tested solution proved to be beneficial in humidifying atrophic or otherwise dry mucosa, douching crusty nose and as adjuvant therapy in the treatment of allergic rhinitis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Clinical findings in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Clinical observations, X-ray findings and results of laboratory tests were evaluated in 770 patients with allergic rhinitis. Anamnestic data and results of the allergological examination of these patients have been presented elsewhere (Holopainen et al., 1979b; Binder et al., 1982). Allergic symptoms were seasonal in 54.5% and perennial in 45.5% of the patients. Mucosal changes as seen on rhinoscopy were significantly more common among patients with perennial than among patients with seasonal rhinitis. Watery discharge was the most common nasal finding, observed in 90% of all patients. Nasal smears showed increased numbers of eosinophilic leucocytes in 70% of the cases. Relationships between the cellular population of the nasal secretion, other laboratory test results and clinical findings are described. X-ray examination revealed pathological changes in the paranasal sinuses in 53.4% of the patients.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Ipratropium (Atrovent) in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis of elderly patients.

Ipratropium is a parasympatholytic agent with high topical activity. The effect of intranasal ipratropium was studied in 34 patients who were over 60 years of age and who suffered from chronic watery vasomotor rhinorrhoea. The study was a double-blind cross-over placebo controlled trial. Trial parameters were: daily nasal symptom and side effect scores, nasal methacholine testing before and after treatment, and clinical evaluation. The active drug clearly reduced nasal discharge. Nasal methacholine testing showed reduction of nasal secretion after the active treatment period. The majority of the patients preferred the active drug to the placebo. Excessive drying of the nasal mucosa was the most common side effect. Ipratropium seems to have a beneficial effect on vasomotor rhinitis, which often is an irritating condition in elderly patients.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMed1983

Astemizole in the treatment of hay fever.

A double-blind parallel trial of astemizole, pheniramine and placebo was carried out in 51 patients with hay fever. Astemizole is a new potent H1-antihistamine with long duration of action but devoid of central activity. Evaluation criteria were daily symptom- and side effect score cards, daily nasal peak flow measurements, clinical examination and blood tests. Control of nasal symptoms was significantly better with both antihistamines than with placebo. Tiredness and anticholinergic side effects were less common in the astemizole group than in the pheniramine group. No significant changes in the "safety evaluation" blood tests were observed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Anamnestic data in allergic rhinitis.

In a study of 770 patients with allergic rhinitis, anamnestic data were collected by means of a questionnaire. 484 (63%) of the patients were women and 286 (37%) men. 45.5% of the patients had perennial symptoms, 33.5% had seasonal symptoms only, and 21% had predominantly seasonal but also some perennial symptoms. More than 50% of the patients belonged to the age group 21-40 years. The seasonal group included significantly more young patients than the perennial group. More than 50% of the parents and about 45% of the siblings had some atopic disorder. About 20% of the rhinitis patients had a concomitant allergic disorder. Sneezing was the commonest complaint in both rhinitis groups, but it was significantly more frequent in patients with seasonal rhinitis. Nasal blockage, again, was significantly commoner in perennial rhinitis. More than half of the patients reported severest symptoms in the morning. 282 patients had some domestic animal or pet, and 34% of these developed symptoms when close to an animal. Hypersensitivity to animals was significantly more frequent in patients who had domestic animals or pets than in those who did not. There was a clear correlation in perennial allergic rhinitis between the duration of rhinitis and deterioration of the sense of smell.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Budesonide in the treatment of nasal polyposis.

A double-blind parallel trial of budesonide versus placebo was carried out in 19 patients suffering from nasal polyposis. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups, one receiving a daily dose of 400 micrograms of budesonide and the other a corresponding dose of placebo intranasally for 4 months. The total mean symptom scores and nasal peak flow values during the trial showed a statistically significant difference in favour of budesonide. On rhinoscopy, a clear decrease in mucosal congestion was noticed in the group receiving the active drug. The polyps diminished in number and size in the budesonide group. Mucociliary function, measured by the saccharin test before and after therapy, did not undergo significant changes in either group. Mean plasma cortisol values were of the same order before and after therapy. Local side-effects were mild in both groups, and there was no indication of mucosal drying or crusting attributable to the test solution. Pre- and post-therapy biopsies revealed a pronounced decrease in tissue eosinophilia following budesonide treatment. Neither nasal smears nor biopsies showed signs of morphological changes in the epithelium.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Secretory otitis media and allergy. With special reference to the cytotoxic leucocyte test.

This study is an investigation on whether allergy, and especially food allergy, is more common in patients with secretory otitis media (SOM) than in others. At the same time, the effectiveness of the cytotoxic leucocyte test (CLT) as an aid in the diagnosis of food allergy was also studied. The material comprised 90 patients: 69 suffering from secretory otitis media and 21 without the disease as controls. Patients were studied using allergy history, ear status, tests for nasal and blood eosinophilic cells, total IgE, skin tests for 20 allergens. RAST for milk and wheat, immunoglobulin A, G and M, precipitating antibodies for milk and gluten. Mantoux test, and the CLT for 23 allergens. Allergy was found in 20% of the SOM patients and 10% of the control patients; the difference was not statistically significant. The best methods for verifying allergy were history, skin tests, and tests for nasal eosinophils cells. Laboratory tests could not verify objectively that food allergy was more common among SOM patients than controls, although 16% of the SOM patients compared with none of the controls had a history of food allergy. Of the tests used, the CLT correlated best with a history of allergy, but the results of the different tests were not in accordance wtih each other.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

Children's atopy and mastocytosis in the nasal smear.

Nasal secretion samples from 473 children aged 0--15 years were studied in order to evaluate the role of mast cells in the nasal smear in different types of atopy and food allergy. The occurrence of eosinophils in the nasal secretion and in the blood, and susceptibility to upper respiratory infection were recorded. A mast cell count of more than 20 cells per slide was indicative of atopy and there was a clear correlation between eosinophilia and mastocytosis in the nasal smear. No type of allergy seemed to be significantly predominant in the total material, but in young children aged 0--3 years mastocytosis was clearly related to food allergy. The examination of nasal smears for mast cells is a valuable test in diagnosing atopy in children and especially food allergy among young children. However, the test is not reliable enough to be used as a single screening test.

Adolescent↗