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Quitting smoking reverses nasal mucosal changes

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Smoking, whether active or passive, has proven deleterious effects on the nasal mucosa. There is also a link between smoking and development and/or maintenance of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Reversal of smoking-induced mucosal changes after quitting smoking is still unconfirmed and controversial. The present study investigated the possibility of reversal of smoking-related nasal mucosal changes back to normal after completely quitting smoking.

Methods

The study was performed on 32 smokers whose nasal mucosa was previously biopsied for electron microscopic examination and then they completely quit smoking. Smoking history of the participants and duration of cessation of smoking were recorded. A tiny 1-mm3 biopsy was taken from the inferior turbinate 1 cm behind its anterior end and processed for electron microscopy. The specimens were processed for electron microscopy and the sections were examined by a pathologist who was blinded to the identity and smoking status of the participant. The results of electron microscopic examination of the nasal mucosa before and after quitting smoking were compared.

Results

The mean duration of quitting smoking was 30.75 months (± 8.26). Examination of the electron microscopic sections before quitting smoking showed variable degrees of loss of cilia and columnar cells, edema between the epithelial cells, few goblet cells, hyperplasia of seromucinous acini, and vascular congestion. The pathologic changes correlated positively with the smoking index of the participant. On the other hand, the sections after quitting smoking showed variable degrees of regeneration of the ciliated cells and decreased vascular congestion. Numerous goblet cells and seromucinous acini were seen. Less pathologic changes were observed with longer durations of cessation of smoking.

Conclusions

The present study showed an association between smoking and the nasal mucosa. Smoking has several injurious effects on the nasal mucosa. However, the nasal mucosa has excellent regeneration potentials and quitting smoking for sufficient periods of time may reverse these deleterious changes. Considering the established link between smoking and CRS, quitting smoking may help smokers to overcome their recalcitrant disease. This should be further investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt

    Samy Elwany, Yasser Shewel & Remon Bazak

  2. Pathology Department, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandra, Egypt

    Iman Talaat

  3. Clinical Sciences Department, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

    Iman Talaat

  4. LHI, Orlando, USA

    Mohamed Elwany

Authors
  1. Samy Elwany
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  2. Yasser Shewel
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  3. Remon Bazak
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  4. Iman Talaat
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  5. Mohamed Elwany
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Correspondence to Samy Elwany.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee (include the name of committee + reference number) and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Elwany, S., Shewel, Y., Bazak, R. et al. Quitting smoking reverses nasal mucosal changes. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 277, 1691–1698 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05896-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-020-05896-x

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