Cyclamen europaeum improves the effect of oral antibiotics on exacerbations and recurrences of chronic rhinosinusitis: a real-life observational study (CHRONOS)

SUMMARY

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease of the nose and paranasal sinuses affecting 11% of the European population. Cyclamen europaeum plant extract (CE) has demonstrated efficacy in treating acute rhinosinusitis, but its role in CRS exacerbations remains unknown. In this real-life, prospective, epidemiological, observational study, a total of 317 patients with exacerbations of CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) of moderate severity were treated using three different options: oral antibiotics, CE extract nasal spray, or the combination of oral antibiotic with CE extract. The main outcomes were the effect of treatment on sinonasal symptoms and endoscopic appearance after 6 weeks of therapy, and the number of recurrences of CRS exacerbations after 6 months of follow-up. On the top of oral antibiotics, CE extract significantly improved sinonasal symptoms and endoscopic findings and caused a 4-fold reduction of CRS recurrences. When administered in monotherapy, CE extract was at least as effective as antibiotic in monotherapy on relief of both symptoms and reduction of CRS recurrences. In patients with CRS exacerbation of moderate severity, CE extract nasal spray in monotherapy or added to standard antibiotic treatment significantly reduces sinonasal symptoms and CRS recurrences compared to antibiotics in monotherapy.