Internal medicine
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Objective Considering the possibility that eosinophilic inflammation is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic epipharyngitis, this study determined whether or not the exhaled nitric oxide level of patients changed after epipharyngeal abrasive therapy (EAT). The diagnosis and follow-up of patients with chronic epipharyngitis were based on the endoscopic findings. If the exhaled nitric oxide level reflects the pathology of a patient with chronic epipharyngitis, the exhaled nitric oxide test can be performed for a follow-up examination as an objective test for chronic epipharyngitis. ⋯ When patients with chronic epipharyngitis were treated using EAT, exhaled nitric oxide levels were significantly lower after EAT than before EAT at the initial visit. Six months after EAT, the exhaled nitric oxide level was significantly lower than that at the initial visit. Conclusion During the follow-up examination of patients with chronic epipharyngitis, the exhaled nitric oxide test may be an effective objective test, along with changes in endoscopic findings.