Management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and coexisting asthma: A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and asthma are strongly associated, and patients suffering from both diseases are often difficult to treat. However, no guidelines about the management of patients with CRS and coexisting asthma exist.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the management of CRSwNP and coexisting asthma.

METHODS: We systematically searched electronic databases and included clinical trials in which the clinical outcomes after medical or surgical treatment of patients with CRSwNP and asthma were assessed. The strength of the evidence for each outcome was graded on the basis of study quality and consistency in findings.

RESULTS: We included seven trials in which the effect of montelukast, omalizumab, erythromycin, and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were studied in 317 adults with CRSwNP and asthma. All the interventions improved the majority of subjective and objective nasal outcomes significantly. However, few studies found significant effects on pulmonary function tests. The strength of the evidence was low overall.

CONCLUSION: Both FESS and medical interventions with systemic anti-inflammatory drugs improved nasal outcomes, although their efficacy in relation to the lower airways remains unclear. A low number of studies met inclusion criteria for this systematic review, which emphasizes the need for high-quality trials to explore the treatment of patients with CRSwNP and coexisting asthma.