Rhinomanometry in the assessment of autonomic regulation of the human body

Study of the function of the nasal cavity and its comparison with the reactions of the autonomic nervous system under stressful conditions can improve the effectiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic measures and detail the processes of pathogenesis in pathology of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Objective. To evaluate the reactivity of the respiratory function of the nasal cavity under the influence of the regulation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) using standard physiological tests and active anterior rhinomanometry. Patients and methods. The study involved 97 healthy subjects divided into 3 groups according to their vegetative status — sympathotonics, normotonics, vagotonics using the Kerdo index and Vein scale. All participants underwent a number of tests using active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR): cold pressor test, Martinet test and Valsalva test. Correlation and regression analysis (Pearson’s coefficient) and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were used for statistical analysis and evaluation of intra-group relationships and ratios. Results. Cold pressor test showed a strong correlation between the initial values of rhinomanometry and indicators 1 and 3 minutes after the test. Martinet test revealed less pronounced relationships between heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) and rhinomanometry indicators. A strong correlation between the initial value of AAR and indicator 1 minute after the test was established when evaluating vagosympathetic activity by means of Valsalva test. The results showed different dynamics of AAR depending on the patient’s vegetative status. The revealed correlations between rhinomanometry, BP and HR were combined with the vegetative status of the subjects. Conclusion. AAR can be used in a comprehensive assessment of the ANS function and demonstrates that vagotonia can be the cause of the development of vasomotor rhinitis; dysfunction of the SNS can be the basis for the formation of atrophic changes in the nasal cavity and sinuses.