An evaluation of the efficacy of indomethacin in experimentally induced acute sinusitis in rats

Y. Kurt, N. Bayar Muluk, C. Yildirim, D. Burukoglu Donmez, K. Erol, C. Cingi

Department of Otolaryngology, Antalya Finike State Hospital, Finike, Antalya, Turkey. nbayarmuluk@yahoo.com

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• Rhinology

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated how efficacious indomethacin, at two different doses, is in the treatment of an experimental model of sinusitis in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one Wistar albino rats (all male) were sorted at random into one of three groups: 1st group (n=7) was placebo. 2nd group (n=7). These rats had sinusitis induced experimentally, following indomethacin 3 mg/kg, 5 days was administered to them. 3rd group (n=7). These rats had sinusitis induced experimentally, following indomethacin 6 mg/kg, 5 days was administered to them. The animals’ sinonasal mucosae were examined histopathologically by standard light microscopy.

RESULTS: Experimental sinusitis was observed in the 2nd and 3rd groups, but not in the rats administered a placebo. Although the inflammatory features of sinusitis were found to be significantly decreased in the animals administered indomethacin 3 mg/kg (the 2nd group), this anti-inflammatory effect was even greater in the 3rd group, where indomethacin 6 mg/kg had been administered. Indomethacin at either dose was superior to placebo in reducing inflammatory features of sinusitis.

CONCLUSIONS: Topical use of indomethacin nasal drops decreased the inflammatory features in experimentally induced acute sinusitis. Moreover, a higher dose of indomethacin (6 mg/kg) was more efficacious than a lower dose (3 mg/kg). The present study is valuable as an initial step in showing the need to undertake human trials to see the effect of indomethacin nasal drops on sinusitis in humans. In acute rhinosinusitis, the use of topical anti-inflammatory drops may help to decrease the symptoms and may be used adjunctively with antibiotic treatment.

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