The level of interleucin 16 in nasal polyposis

Nasal polyposis is a chronic inflammatory disease which is diagnosed with endoscopic and tomographic evaluations. Because of the complex nature and the limited understanding of its etiopathogenesis makes this disease difficult to treat precisely, so that recurrence is seen oftenly.Tissue eosinophilia is the most important factor in the histopathology of the nasal polyposis. Although the pathogenesis of the tissue eosinophilia has been tried to explain by complex immunological mechanisms, to date it is not clarified entirely.Interleucin 16, which its relationship with several inflammatory diseases has been documented in the literature, is an important mediator that is responsible of not only for the eosinophil chemotaxis but also the interaction with other cells in inflammation. Only one study exists regarding the relationship between nasal polyposis and IL-16 in literature. The aim of this study is to manifest its relationship with tissue eosinophilia and quality of life by investigating the serum interleucin 16 levels in the nasal polyposis cases.Seventeen nasal polyposis patients were included in this study that had been neither given systemic or topical medication at least 8 weeks, nor had a history of asthma, allergic, inflammatory and granulomatous diseases. The control group was also consisted of ten patients, undergoing nasal surgery because of septal deviation, concha bullosa and/or inferior turbinate hipertrophy, but without history of asthma, allergic, inflammatory and granulomatous diseases.In conclusion, the significant elevation of serum IL-16 level in nasal polyposis patients according to control group is demonstrated. Moreover it is pointed that there is a significant increment in tissue eosinophilia level in nasal polyposis in comparison with control group. However, it is detected that there is no significant relationship between tissue eosinophilia and serum interleucin 16 level. It is suggested that in addition to several inflammatory cytokines in the complex immunologic mechanisms of the nasal polyposis etiopathogenesis, IL-16 is also playing an important role.