Long-term role of zileuton in the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis in aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease

Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Jan-Feb;43(1):103227. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2021.103227. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

Abstract

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in the setting of Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) have high rate of treatment failure and disease recurrence.

Objective: Evaluate the long-term effect of zileuton on sinonasal outcomes in patients with AERD.

Methods: AERD patients were reviewed and divided into two cohorts, depending if they were treated with zileuton during their clinical course. Demographic data, 22-item sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22), Lund-Kennedy (LK) endoscopy score, duration of treatment, and number of sinus surgeries performed were collected.

Results: 40 AERD patients were included, with follow-up duration up to 10 years (avg of 5.2 years). All patients were treated with topical saline and budesonide irrigations, intranasal steroid spray, and montelukast. 19 patients had uncontrolled sinus disease requiring multiple steroid tapers and were switched from montelukast to zileuton (cohort 1, 47.5%) at some point in their treatment. 21 patients (cohort 2, 52.5%) never needed zileuton. The average duration of treatment with zileuton was 6 years. Patients who required zileuton had a worse SNOT-22 (32.1 vs 19, p = 0.117), worse LK score (8.1 vs 7.5, p = 0.504), and higher average number of surgeries (1.9 vs 1.6, p = 0.343). The outcomes in the zileuton cohort trended toward improvement, however these did not reach statistical significance with an improved SNOT-22 from 32.1 to 27.4 (p = 0.617) and LK score from 7.9 to 6.2 (p = 0.092); The addition of zileuton significantly lowered the number of surgeries needed to an average of 0.5 (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion: Zileuton may help decrease the number of sinus surgeries needed in AERD.

Keywords: AERD; Chronic rhinosinusitis; Nasal polyposis; Outcome; Zileuton.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / adverse effects
  • Aspirin / adverse effects
  • Asthma, Aspirin-Induced / complications
  • Asthma, Aspirin-Induced / drug therapy*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyurea / analogs & derivatives*
  • Hydroxyurea / therapeutic use
  • Leukotriene Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rhinitis / chemically induced
  • Rhinitis / drug therapy*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sinusitis / chemically induced
  • Sinusitis / drug therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Leukotriene Antagonists
  • Aspirin
  • zileuton
  • Hydroxyurea