Digitally-enabled, person-centred care (PCC) in allergen immunotherapy: An ARIA-EAACI Position Paper.

In rhinitis and asthma, several mHealth apps have been developed but only a few have been validated. However, these apps have a high potential for improving person-centred care (PCC), especially in allergen immunotherapy (AIT). They can provide support in AIT initiation by selecting the appropriate patient and allergen shared decision-making. They can also help in (i) the evaluation of (early) efficacy, (ii) early and late stopping rules and (iii) the evaluation of (carried-over) efficacy after cessation of the treatment course. Future perspectives have been formulated in the first report of a joint task force (TF)-Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI)-on digital biomarkers. The TF on AIT now aims to (i) outline the potential of the clinical applications of mHealth solutions, (ii) express their current limitations, (iii) make proposals regarding further developments for both clinical practice and scientific purpose and (iv) suggest which of the tools might best comply with the purpose of digitally-enabled PCC in AIT.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis Outcome Registry (CHRINOSOR): Establishment of an International Outcome Registry Driven by mHealth Technology.

BACKGROUND: Real-world evidence (RWE) is a valuable instrument to better understand the patient journey and effectiveness of therapies. RWE on the prevalence of uncontrolled chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and CRS natural course of disease across Europe is scarce. In addition, there is limited RWE that enables comparison of the effectiveness of marketed therapies including topical or systemic corticosteroids, sinus surgery, or biologics. OBJECTIVE: To establish an international CHRonic rhINOSinusitis Outcome Registry (CHRINOSOR) based on real-world data collection enabled by mobile health technology. METHODOLOGY: A digital platform, Galenus Health, supporting patients and physicians in the management of chronic respiratory diseases, is used to collect data on patient profile, disease history, patient outcomes, and a set of relevant clinical outcomes. Adult patients with a diagnosis of CRS are eligible for inclusion. RESULTS: A collaborative scientific network of 17 university ear-nose-throat (ENT) clinics from 10 European countries has been established with the aim to collect real-world data in a longitudinal and standardized manner. The Galenus Health digital platform is currently being implemented in these ENT clinics taking into account legal, privacy, and data security aspects. Up to 300 patients have already been included. CONCLUSIONS: CHRINOSOR is a collaborative effort that aims at improving our understanding of CRS, its comorbidities, and the effectiveness of its treatments. Ultimately, these insights will guide us as scientific community to develop future care pathways informed by RWE.

Radiological score of computed tomography scans predicts revision surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: Evaluate computed tomography (CT) signs that predict need for revision endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods: CRS patients (n = 48) underwent routine sinus CT scans and baseline ESS in 2006-2011. Lund-Mackay (LM) scores and 43 other CT signs were analysed blinded from both sides. Patients filled in a questionnaire during the day of CT scanning. Follow-up data were collected from hospital records until January 2018. Associations were analysed by Fisher's exact, Mann Whitney U, Kaplan-Meier method with logrank test and Cox's proportional hazard model. Results: Total LM score was not significantly associated with the need for revision ESS. The best predictive model was a sum of CT signs of non-detectable anatomy of inferior/middle turbinates, obstructed frontal recess, and previous sinus surgery. Using these CT findings, we formed a Radiological Score (RS) (min-max, 0-3 points). Having at least one RS point was significantly associated with the need for revision ESS during the average follow-up of 10.7 years (p = 0.008, Logrank test). Conclusion: We identified a radiologic score that was able to predict the need for revision ESS, which is probably useful in predicting CRS outcomes.

Satisfaction with maxillary sinus surgery might be influenced by risk factors.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses lasting for ≥12 weeks. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is considered during difficult to treat CRS. The minimally invasive technique focuses on the transition areas rather than on the ostia. The aim of this study was to evaluate symptoms, the number of acute sinusitis episodes, and satisfaction after ESS with either preservation or enlargement of the maxillary sinus ostium. Thirty patients with moderate nonpolypous CRS were enrolled. Uncinectomy only and additional middle meatal antrostomy were randomized for each side of each patient and performed single blindly. The symptoms questionnaires were filled at four time intervals. Significant symptom reduction was achieved independently of operation technique. The number of acute sinusitis episodes indicating the exacerbation rate decreased significantly at 9 and, on average, 68 months postoperatively. However, the exacerbation rate began to increase after 9 months postoperatively. Three revisions were performed on the side with uncinectomy only and one on the side with additional antrostomy. Most patients reported good satisfaction with both procedures. There was a trend for patients with asthma and/or job exposure to report insignificantly more frequently no satisfaction with surgery, especially with the uncinectomy-only procedure. Both procedures seem to be efficient in providing symptom relief and satisfaction. More studies are needed to evaluate if patients with risk factors benefit more from an ostium-enlarging procedure.

Mucosal eosinophils and l-selectin ligands are associated with invasive and noninvasive sinus surgery outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by persistent inflammation of the nasal and paranasal mucosa with numerous emigrated leukocytes. L-Selectin on leukocytes and its endothelial glycosylated ligands initiate leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissues. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is the major approach for restoring sinus physiology after failure of conservative therapy; however, the effect of enlarging the maxillary sinus ostium is still unknown. Here, we compared two histological markers of local inflammation, the number of mucosal eosinophils, and the expression of endothelial L-selectin ligands, with clinical outcomes after enlarging or saving the maxillary sinus ostium. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with CRS underwent uncinectomy on one side and additional middle meatal antrostomy on the other side. Maxillary sinus mucosa biopsy specimens from these patients and nine healthy subjects were taken for immunohistochemical evaluations of the number of mucosal eosinophils and endothelial L-Selectin ligands. Also, symptoms and mucociliary clearance were measured. RESULTS: The postoperative reduction of the endothelial L-Selectin ligands was independent of the operation technique. There was a correlation between postoperative number of mucosal eosinophils and symptom score, which was also independent of the surgical technique. The postoperative decrease of mucosal eosinophils, as well as the correlation of the intraoperative eosinophils with the postoperative symptom score, was found only on antrostomy side. CONCLUSION: ESS decreases the expression of endothelial L-Selectin ligands, which might lead to decreased eosinophil traffic into maxillary sinus mucosa, putatively more when enlarging the maxillary sinus ostium. Both intra- and postoperative low number of eosinophils seem to be indicators of good subjective recovery.

Endothelial L-selectin ligands in sinus mucosa during chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis.

RATIONALE: Chronic rhinosinusitis is characterized by persistent inflammation of the nasal and paranasal mucosa with numerous emigrated leukocytes. L-selectin on leukocytes and its endothelial glycosylated ligands initiate organ-specific leukocyte infiltration into inflamed tissues. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the endothelial expression of functionally active endothelial L-selectin ligands, sulfated sialyl Lewis x, in maxillary sinus mucosa from patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and from normal control subjects. METHODS: Maxillary sinus mucosa specimens (116) were obtained surgically and immunohistochemically stained with monoclonal antibodies detecting sialyl Lewis x or sulfated extended core 1 lactosamines. The severity of the inflammation was determined by intraoperative endoscopic findings, computed tomography scans, and histopathologic assessment of the specimens. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The percentage of vessels expressing endothelial sulfated sialyl Lewis x epitopes increased during chronic rhinosinusitis compared with uninflamed control tissue, especially in patients with additional allergic rhinitis, and decreased in specimens from aspirin-intolerant patients with preoperative oral corticosteroid treatment. In addition, the expression level of endothelial sulfated sialyl Lewis x epitopes and the number of mucosal eosinophils correlated with the severity of the inflammation, and decreased in specimens taken 9 months postoperatively compared with intraoperative samples, especially in patients with intranasal corticosteroid treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that functionally active L-selectin ligands might guide leukocyte traffic into maxillary sinus mucosa preferentially in patients with severe findings of chronic maxillary rhinosinusitis, thus leading to aggravation of the inflammation.